Online Outrage Sparked by New Product Found on Walmart Shelf: 'I Thought It Was Sarcasm'

A newly released item at Walmart has sparked both admiration and criticism online, depending on the platform. The item in question is a set of disposable cutting boards from Dixie.

A Reddit user, whose account has since been deleted, expressed surprise in an August post: "I forgot what I was reading and expected some criticism, but instead every comment was praising this."

The Daily Dot article referenced a TikTok by Dan Oliver (@founder_dan), who described the cutting boards as "the best new product." According to the article, the boards are designed to help prevent cross-contamination. Of course, cross-contamination can also be avoided with traditional cutting boards by simply washing them.

Members of the r/anticonsumption subreddit were incredulous. One commenter wrote, "I suppose anything is disposable if you're willing to pay to throw it away. Regardless, this is disappointing." Another remarked, "Everyone around me seems obsessed with disposables and too lazy to clean. Even at home, they use paper plates for chips. Rinsing a bowl takes secondsI just can't understand it."

A third user added, "When I saw this I thought it was a joke. People are saying 'gReAT fOR CaMpInG!!!!' Just use a normal cutting boardit takes the same space. Are we really not washing dishes while camping?"

The article mentions that Dixie claims the disposable cutting boards are recyclable if local programs accept food-contaminated paper and plastic waste. However, recyclability does not guarantee recycling. According to the EPA, cardboard is recycled more than any other material, yet 31.8% still ends up in landfills, where it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

The University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Center reports that the U.S. uses 70,000 tons of cardboard annually, with over 17,000 tons discarded in landfills. The Daily Dot points out that reusable kitchen tools are a more sustainable choice, aligning with the Sierra Club's environmental guidance.

One Redditor summarized the issue bluntly: "Every day we stoop to new levels of rampant destructive consumerism."

Author: Sophia Brooks