We generally don't pay much heed to it, but using plastic utensils and cutlery for food is one of the most harmful habits we have. The chemicals found in plastic are incredibly harmful to humans.

If you go by breastcancer.org, most of plastic utensils and cutlery we use contain polystyrene (#6 plastic) which discharges a chemical known as styrene. Exposure to the chemical could lead to eye irritation, headaches, fatigue, and even depression. Even though it's not conclusive, some studies have even suggested that styrene could increase the risk of leukemia and lymphoma. And while #6 plastic is recyclable, many organisations choose not to do so in order to save cost.

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Narayana Peesapaty from Hyderabad realised the danger plastic poses and came up with a plan that's nothing short of sheer genius. Since 2010, Narayana has been working on Bakey's - a company that's looking to replace plastic cutlery with an edible alternative!

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Bakey's uses a mix of jowar, rice and wheat flour to manufacture edible cutlery that includes spoons in different shapes, and even chopsticks. In case you're wondering how that works with hot food - worry not, it does not get soggy. Not even in water. Even if the thought of consuming your cutlery after consuming your food sounds a little weird to you, you could throw them away knowing that it will decompose within 5-6 days. If not, it can become a source of food for pets, insects or rodents. For those wondering what it tastes like, the cutlery is available in three flavours - plain, sweet and spicy.

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Thanks to the attention the product has been getting worldwide, Narayana has been able to talk about the major ill effects of plastic with a large audience. Orders for this amazing new concept have been coming in from all across the globe, including the US and UK.

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Based in Hyderabad, the manufacturing unit of Bakey's is an all-women enterprise, soon to be taken over by Narayana's wife.

Till now, over 1.5 million people have started using Bakey's edible cutlery instead of plastic. You should too.

You can check out Bakey's website and order yourself some cutlery right here.

H/t- thebetterindia.com