Consecotaleophobia may not be well known, but it is certainly common, with three out of five Brits admitting to the fear of chopsticks.
Now scientists at the University of Surrey in England have devised a formula, dubbed 'Uncle Ben's Chopstick Equation', to calculate chopstick proficiency. It helps identify the comfort levels associated with different foods, thereby allowing users to practise with 'easy' foods before trying something tricky.
In the formula, shown in the diagram above, C = comfort factor, Co = 30 (a constant describing the length and angle of chopsticks), N = number of meals eaten with chopsticks, n = shape, softness and crumbliness of food, a = slipperiness of food, d = diameter of food (in cm), m = mass of food (in grams), t = plate to mouth transit time (in seconds).
Rice firm Uncle Ben's Aileen McLaughlin said: 'The formula will come as a welcome answer for those terrified by chopsticks.'
