The device known as shoyu-tai (or soy-sauce snapper in Japanese) was invented in 1954 by Teruo Watanabe, the founder of Osaka-based company Asahi Sogyo, according to a report from Japan’s Radio Kansai.
It was then common for glass and ceramic containers to be used but the advent of cheap industrial plastics allowed the creation of a small polyethylene container in the shape of a fish, officially named the “Lunch Charm”.
The invention quickly spread around Japan and eventually worldwide, and it is estimated that billions have been produced.
Those are cute and I can see how they would be popular. And I see why they should also be banned. I live in the Midwest and I’m not sure I have seen these. Ours just comes in a little sauce packet.
yeah, i’m thinking about our taco bell sauce packets. would they put them in little soy sauce bottles at every table? little cholula bottles with the cute wooden stoppers? what would they do if they couldn’t
bribelobby their way out of this?
The “fish-shaped” is rather irrelevant. The point is that it is a single -use plastic thing. With very little content in relation to the plastic used.
I thought it would have been very relevant.
It looks like a fish lure.
If this is floating around at sea I don’t see why other fish (and maybe certain sea birds?) wouldn’t think it’s prey, and it even has a bright red indicator that makes it easy to spot.
Only relevant for countries that still “recycle” plastics by throwing them into the sea.
Some thrash will end up in nature no matter what you do, especially small and light items. That’s why it’s good practice to design packaging do that it does minimal harm if it ends up in nature.
So all of them.
All of them participate, yes, but on vastly different levels. There are countries that actually collect and recycle.
You misunderstand. I’m saying those countries that think they’re doing a good job, their shit’s going straight to the water too. They’re all fooling themselves. Or more accurately they’re fooling you the consumer and thosr believing recycling works. It doesn’t for the vast vast majority of plastics. So all of them are dumping Plastics in the water.
Some people just don’t appreciate the irony of killing turtles with fish-shaped plastic, what can you do
You know what’s killing more turtles? Irresponsible mega-corporations.
Nothing is ever produced by them that isn’t bought by someone who should have said no.
If companies are to blame then that’s the media companies who don’t inform the consumers about their responsibilities but instead sell ads for harmful products.
Good luck relying on informed customers when customers are too busy living their lives to keep track of a billion different reasons for why they shouldn’t buy one product over another. Also, these are given out at restaurants. Do you recommend refusing to go to a restaurant if they happen to see this dispenser being included there?
How is making sure millions of people are informed and making the “correct” decision every time a better solution than simply restricting on the supply side?
It’s the only way to make a change. Businesses can buy politicians to avoid regulations.
It’d cost more to buy out the politicians than to switch to the sachets that are still allowed. The sachets are cheaper to produce since they use less plastic and businesses would be happy to be “forced” to switch to a cheaper alternative along with all their competitors.
In this case. Most of the times the politician is cheaper.
If corporations would not give people the choice of buying one way plastic containers, then no one would buy them.
True. Now do we want people to take responsibility for their society or do we want them to get used to rely on somebody else?
I’m not defending the use but should mention that these are convenient over traditional sauce packets. They allow precise application in a droplet form, don’t spill everywhere, and can be closed with the included cap.
But offer no benefit over a simple serving bottle.
Correct. These are often found in takeaway containers.
Oh no! How are people supposed to sneak G into parties now?
I have never once seen one of these. Interesting.
Date rapists in shambles
For context, these containers are really popular for storing drugs like GHB
What is the issue with this form compared to others?
South Australia will be the first place in the world to ban them under a wider ban on single-use plastics that comes into force on 1 September.
The issue is that you didn’t read the article 😊
A decent question. Especially if this ban allows the ripper pouch style single serve sauces.
I have collected a tonne of the fish shaped bad boys at river clean ups, so maybe they’re somehow worse. Tbh takeaway sushi could improve in a lot of ways to reduce single use plastics, so kinda funny that the cute fish copped it.
Wonder if you could put soy sauce in wax like those wax bottle candies instead
Scrolling by I literally thought “Man, that candy looks delicious, what’s this article about?” And then read the headline… 🫠
Al Gore is going to have a field day with this.
I’ve never seen these things before but it does seem like a waste of plastic. Even sachets of sauce shouldn’t be handed out in most circumstances, at least for dine-in food in fast food places - use dispensers and paper cups. I wonder if there is a biodegradable sachet material which has a couple of years shelf life but degrades thereafter.
I’ve been in Japan for 15 years but Idon’t think I’ve seen these here in a long while. Maybe it’s a regional thing?
It’s sold in every sushi box in France. I guess it’s a way to pretend it’s a Japanese thing.
Interesting! I know we used to have them in Japan, but they must have phased them out over time because I didn’t notice they were gone until I saw this article lol. I mostly see clear packets that you tear, similar to ketchup packets.
is this like for food delivery?
