Chopsticks are the traditional eating utensils of some countries including China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. They can be made of wood, gold, silver, ivory, bamboo, or plastic. They are believed to have originated from China thousands of years ago. It is quite common to see chopsticks disinfection equipment in restaurants but not many of such gadgets are available for use at home. That may have prompted Xiaomi to back a Chinese firm which has now launched a smart chopsticks sterilization tube on the Youpin platform.
While metal chopsticks may not pose serious health challenge, the wooden, ivory and bamboo-made chopsticks are an ideal breeding ground for bacteria because of their ability to retain moisture for long. The sterilization kit has a storage case and a chamber for sterilization and features a white minimalist design. The device can be fitted on a wall, thus saving space. It has a dimension of 344mm x 87mm x 68mm. 
The smart chopstick sterilization kit uses medical grade Ultraviolet radiation which can kill nearly 98% of all bacteria. It is effective against the common food bacterias; E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus which can cause diarrhoea, fever and other diseases. The kit can hold 20 pairs of chopsticks at the same time and support various materials such as bamboo, wood, iron, plastic, stainless steel.
The chopsticks sterilization tube has an easy-to-disassemble structure with separate draining areas. It has a magnetic sensor switch design such that when the cover is opened the device powers off and starts sterilizing when the cover is closed. The sensor also adjusts the running time according to the kitchen ambient temperature. The device has a power rating of 4.2W. In addition, the device is almost silent during operation, no noise is generated, and all-day standby which does not have any effect on its life span.
The device is presently available on crowdfunding via Xiaomi Youpin for just 99 yuan ($14). The product is expected to start shipping on August 14.
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