this post was submitted on 11 Mar 2025
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Today I Learned

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Though plastic sushi grass is a modern development, the idea behind it has been around for centuries. Flowers, leaves, fruits and branches have been used to line vessels in Japanese cuisine for over a millennium, according to Nancy Singleton Hachisu, a James Beard Award–winning food journalist and an expert in authentic Japanese cuisine.

The use of leaves to separate food, however, became common during the Edo period (1603–1864). “Originally, the Kanto region (around Tokyo) used sasanoha [leaves from the bamboo plant], while the Kansai region (around Kyoto) used haran.”

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[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 76 points 2 months ago (2 children)

It's so you get your daily dose of microplastics, obviously.

[–] BrutallyHonestPOS@lemm.ee 32 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

you mean to get your 12th daily dose of microplastics?

jokes aside, i hate when my sashimi touches the ginger for take-out. the spots denature (is that the correct term in english?) as if it was cooked. i sure wish they used more shredded raddish.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 14 points 2 months ago (2 children)

As a native English speaker, I'm not entirely sure if 'denature' is or is not the best word, but I totally understand what you mean.

And honestly, off the top of my head, I can't even think of a better word, so denature(d) works I guess.

Still, what's wrong with bamboo leaves or other natural things? Why plastic now?

[–] Nurse_Robot@lemmy.world 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Money. Plastic is cheaper, easier to store, doesn't spoil, etc

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world -5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

I've literally seen cotton paper money that's older and still more durable than the dryrotted plastic slides at our city park.

Please don't feed me a line of shit by trying to say plastic 'doesn't spoil'

[–] glimse@lemmy.world 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That's a false equivalence.

That hot dog sealed in epoxy is like 5 years old and still looks the same. But the piece of wood I left in my yard last October is rotted and useless now.

Therefore, hot dogs are stronger than lumber.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago
[–] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Paper money left in wet conditions rots.

Plastic out in the sun and weather conditions breaks down a lot faster than in a storage room.

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

It's the right word.

The acids denature the proteins causing them to become firm and opaque just as if they had been cooked.

There are some dishes, like Ceviche, that use this effect intentionally ("cooking" fish in lemon juice).

[–] cabbage@piefed.social 30 points 2 months ago (3 children)
[–] Gladaed@feddit.org 18 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Am EU, have seen plastic sushi decor.

[–] lurch@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Can confirm. You get plastic grass between takeout sushi in all big German cities.

Never seen atroturf on me sushi either

[–] Krelis_@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Similar idea: snackbar

[–] Xanthrax@lemmy.world 19 points 2 months ago (2 children)

The number one use of kale up until a couple of decades ago was the same exact thing. I learned that at a place where we lined the salad bar with it.

[–] pfwood178@sh.itjust.works 17 points 2 months ago

Pizza Hut was the largest purchaser of Kale.

[–] tigeruppercut@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I wish Japan would get on board with using plants to separate the sushi instead of plastic. I don't think they have much kale but surely something else would work. Regrettably the wrapping culture is still kind of out of control, and the plastic use reflects that in a lot of ways.

[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 2 points 2 months ago

We have people growing kale, but I think a lot of it ends up in green smoothies, a handful of restaurants, and maybe something like animal feed (though not sure on that last one). Something like hakusai or other greens ribs with mild aroma might be a possible substitute, but it could also impact shelf life.

[–] logos@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 months ago

…because hey used to use real plants for separation and decoration, but now they use plastic because enshittification.

Well, yeah.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 5 points 2 months ago

They are more concerned about aesthetic than the trash it generates...

I hate it

[–] NotSteve_@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 months ago (4 children)

I’ve never seen this in Canada. Is this an American thing?

[–] chrizzowski@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 months ago

Am Canadian, it's definitely a thing here. At least in BC it is.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 4 points 2 months ago

I've only seen it in cheap gas station and grocery store pre-made packages. Never at an actual sushi/sashimi place.

[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 3 points 2 months ago

We have the plastic grass separators here in Japan.

LMAO at the downvote. Been here a decade and got grocery store sushi last week, plastic separator included.

[–] chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

I’ve seen it from some of the local sushi places here in Southern Ontario. I always thought it had something to do with trying to keep the flavours separate.

[–] Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 months ago

Interesting. I've never seen that but I also don't think I ate sushi as take-out until Covid, so I have little experience to draw from.