this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2025
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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.

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[–] Meron35@lemmy.world 14 points 3 days ago

Date rapists in shambles

For context, these containers are really popular for storing drugs like GHB

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 60 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Lumisal@lemmy.world 19 points 4 days ago (7 children)

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.

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[–] renrenPDX@lemmy.world 26 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Chais@sh.itjust.works 13 points 4 days ago (2 children)

But offer no benefit over a simple serving bottle.

[–] zipzoopaboop@lemmynsfw.com 18 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

Portability and cost.

I don't support single use plastics but saying no benefit is just willfully ignorant and causes alternatives to fail for missing the point.

[–] Wahots@pawb.social 8 points 4 days ago

It could just be waxed paper/waxed cardboard like the milk cartons of yore, but small. A lot of this stuff has been around long before plastics, and we got by just fine :)

[–] Chais@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Portability is a fair point, but I feel like we shouldn't count cost, since that's the line of thinking that got us into this mess.

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[–] renrenPDX@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago

Correct. These are often found in takeaway containers.

[–] Lexam@lemmy.world 72 points 5 days ago (2 children)

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.

[–] elucubra@sopuli.xyz 30 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Essentially a less cute plastic wrapper, no?

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 17 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Yeah but as another person from the American Midwest, the article seems to indicate south Australia is moving to the packets we have as they're larger and use less plastic, though the goal is for bulk soy sauce in refillable containers

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[–] ParadoxSeahorse@lemmy.world 27 points 5 days ago (10 children)

Some people just don’t appreciate the irony of killing turtles with fish-shaped plastic, what can you do

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[–] elucubra@sopuli.xyz 31 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (10 children)

A Spanish company (I imagine there are a few worldwide) develops compostable bioplastic containers using PLA, polylactic acid, the most used plastic in 3D printing, in food safe formulations. I suppose there are limitations on what it can contain, and I don't know if soy sauce is compatible. I know that it's used for single serving olive oil, for example. There are challenges, like storage life, but it's a good start.

I do a lot of 3D printing. Printing PLA things for food storage is not recommended, not because of PLA, but because filaments often have modifiers to enhance certain properties that may not be food safe, and because contact with materials and parts, like extrusion nozzles may add impurities that are probably not food safe..

[–] bitwolf@sh.itjust.works 33 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Keep in mind that PLA also leaks microplastics into food and could also be considered a risk to health just like other plastics.

[–] elucubra@sopuli.xyz 10 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Aren't these biodegradable, though? I imagine the body would eventually process them, unlike hydrocarbon based plastics.

[–] Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zone 37 points 5 days ago (3 children)

“Biodegradable” doesn’t mean “biodegradable in the conditions in the human body.” Lots of ‘green’ plastics are only compostable at a fairly high temperature (120F/50C) and with specific bacteria present.

PLA is not one of those. It's used in biodegradable implants. Even fairly large bone screws will dissolve within a couple years.

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[–] MrQuallzin@lemmy.world 13 points 5 days ago (5 children)

The hard part about PLA is that while it is biodegradable, it's only in certain conditions/facilities who are set up for it, and it's not very common around the country. I'm all for what the company is doing, and I already do see a lot of PLA products in fast food (like soda cups), but it doesn't mean much if we don't have the facilities to properly dispose of it.

Source: I do a modest amount of 3D printing

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[–] yourgodlucifer@sh.itjust.works 11 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Wonder if you could put soy sauce in wax like those wax bottle candies instead

[–] VitoRobles@lemmy.today 3 points 4 days ago

If it exists, I can't wait to hand these out during Halloween

[–] emmanuel_car@fedia.io 18 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Oh no! How are people supposed to sneak G into parties now?

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[–] gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 3 days ago (4 children)

I'm gonna say it:

The problem is not the fish-shaped plastic per se, but the fact that so much of it ends up in the ocean: Why do we still not collect and burn plastics properly? People throw their waste everywhere because there's not enough waste bins in comfortable walking distance. In Vienna, where waste bins are frequent on the streets (you basically never have to walk more than 30 meters to one, no matter where you sit and pause, somehow), there is literally no litter in the environment. No plastic articles or metal cans on the streets. Very rare cigarettes laying around. That's because Vienna has enough trash cans. Many cities don't have that and people have literally no choice to dispose of their trash properly because there's simply no trash cans around, so you either carry your dirty plastic packaging in your backpack and therefore sully your backpack with the grease on the packaging, or throw it into the environment.

Then, there needs to be strict laws that say that all plastic waste has to be burned, not dumped into the environment.

Then, biodegradable bioplastics would also mitigate this problem a lot.

[–] Zozano@aussie.zone 4 points 3 days ago

Ironically, Japan has almost no trash bins. You'll find them next to vending machines - you're expected to consume there and throw away packaging immediately, or take the rubbish with you.

So pick a lane. 100 bins per square kilometer, or none.

Anywhere in between evidently sucks.

[–] corodius@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Burning plastic does not mitigate its environmental effects, and infact would increase air pollution and microplastics exponentially if we were to start.

I fully agree with the rest, but burning plastic is definitely not the answer.

[–] Mpatch@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

So, did you just come up with that, or do you actually know something about industrial incinerators used for power generation?

[–] gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

i too would like any kind of reasonable source about this, because i've heard very different from a many colleagues who work in this field.

modern incineration sites are very clean and produce no significant air polluting output. at least in modern sites. microplastics is also not an issue with these. the problem is that the trash gets thrown in rivers and forests where it breaks into microplastics, but that isn't an issue if it's all collected and incinerated.

[–] cley_faye@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (2 children)

People throw their waste everywhere because there’s not enough waste bins in comfortable walking distance

I see almost daily people throwing trash on the street in front of an empty recycle bin. I think the issue is more about people not giving a shit than convenience of finding a trashcan or keeping stuff in your pocket until you do.

[–] adavis@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

In addition, too many people don't even care enough to use the correct bin. Every bin day my neighbours bins are overflowing with no recyclables in their recycling bin. I wouldn't be surprised if the bins were meaningless and it all went in a hole in the ground

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[–] gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I think the issue is more about people not giving a shit

but do these trash cans have funny jokes on them like these ones:

"mist" is trash in german

[–] cley_faye@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Eh. No jokes, no. The most engaging thing I remember seeing around in the city was a "vote" panel for cigarette butts with silly questions; but even that has gone away.

It is unfortunate that we're at this point. Hopefully other places do fare better.

[–] humanoidchaos@lemmy.cif.su 2 points 3 days ago

I don't think you even begin to understand what it's like to have billions of people on the earth.

No matter what we do, people will still slip through the cracks and this litter will get out.

[–] Sunsofold@lemmings.world 7 points 4 days ago

I was thinking about these literally just yesterday. I'm wondering if they could be essentially replaced with something like those wax bottle candies. Maybe not the best for places that reach extreme temperatures but some places could do it without issue.

[–] arc99@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

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.

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