Australian state to ban the containers of fish -shaped soybean sauce

An Australian state will prohibit the containers of soy -shaped soy sauce, under a broader ban on single -use plastics.

The emblematic containers have become a staple food in many Asian restaurants and dishes around the world.

“Each fish-shaped container is used for only a few seconds, but remains in the environment for decades or centuries if it is strewn,” said Environmental Minister for South Australia, Susan Close earlier.

From September 1, stores and business in South Australia will no longer be able to sell or distribute containers of 30 ml pre-represented soy sauce which have a cover, a ceiling or a plug.

This decision is based on previous environmental legislation from 2023 which prohibited supermarket transport bags, plastic straws, drinking agitators, cotton swabs and confetti, among others.

The government of South Australia said it had implemented the policy of “reducing pollution, reducing carbon emissions and protecting marine life”.

Although soy sauce containers are made of recyclable plastic – polyethylene – their small size means that they are struggling to be treated correctly by machines. This means that they are often not recycled.

Fish -shaped soy sauce containers were invented in Japan in 1954 by Teruo Watanabe. They were first in ceramic or glass before becoming plastic – and quickly became a popular means of pressing soy sauce on take -out sushi.

People can always have a soy sauce with their sushi, because large bottles of soy sauce and sachets have not been affected.

Australian officials said that without action, the annual plastic flow in the ocean will be triple by 2040 to 29 million metric tonnes per year.

A global comparison of plastic waste management has placed Australia 7th among the 25 nations for its overall efforts to control plastic pollution.