Do you have any sources for wood cooking implements being unhygienic? I recall one a few years ago finding that wooden cutting boards are _more_ hygienic than plastic as they pull bacteria into their pores and trap and kill them: https://news.ncsu.edu/2014/09/cutting-boards-food-safety/

I don't cut into my spatula, though. It doesn't have the same grooves as a plastic cutting board

I don't think I've ever even seen a wooden spatula, and I don't see how you could make one thin enough to flip pancakes (or worse eggs) and it stay durable.

It's very common in Europe, I have several at home. If you properly wash them, there is no bacterial danger either.

I use wooden spatulas, and gladly take the short-term biological risk over the long-term hormonal risk. In any case, in a modern kitchen where utensils are washed thoroughly and regularly I don't see an issue with wood.

Some people even carve them from lumber. If you are into DIY and you have no Christmas gift ideas :)

It's a common thing in woodworking class at school. We have a spoon, butter knife and a cutting board made by our daughter. We also have a bunch of other wooden kitchen utencils since half the family works with wood on their free time... :-)

They are common in the US too.

Excuse me? I find it hard to believe you've never seen a wooden spatula, it's like claiming you've never seen a wooden spoon.

I use a wood spatula at home. I flip pancakes and eggs.

I opened an incognito tab and googled "spatula" and this is literally the second result https://www.target.com/p/acacia-wood-solid-turner-brown-figm...

Ok, I think I've seen those before, but that looks too thick for flipping eggs or pancakes effectively.

You can use a well made, smoothly polished metal one with round edges. Your eggs are not sticking to your non-stick pan, right? So you will never use any of the kind of force that will gouge the surface.