Edible glitter cake balls
Baking fancy cookies and cakes for the holidays? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants you to know that some glitters and dusts promoted for use in foods may, in fact, contain materials that should not be eaten. Many decorative glitters and dusts are sold over the Internet and in craft and bakery supply stores under names such as luster dust, disco dust, twinkle dust, sparkle dust, highlighter, shimmer powder, pearl dust, and petal dust. Moreover, a variety of online instructional videos, blogs, and articles promote the use of these glitters and dusts to decorate foods such as cakes, cupcakes, and cake pops.
There are some glitters and dusts that are edible and produced specifically for use on foods, but others may not be.
How to Tell Edible, From Non-Edible. There are easy things you can do to determine what’s edible and what’s non-edible:
- Carefully check the ingredients. Manufacturers that make edible glitters and dusts (designed to be eaten) are required by law to include a list of ingredients on the label. Common ingredients in edible glitter or dust include sugar, acacia (gum arabic), maltodextrin, cornstarch, and color additives specifically approved for food use, including mica-based pearlescent pigments and FD&C colors such as FD&C Blue No. 1.
- Check for other information on the label. Edible glitters and dusts should also state “edible” on the label. If the label simply says “non-toxic” or “for decorative purposes only” and does not include an ingredients list, you should try not to use the product directly on foods. If you choose to decorate a food item with decorations that are not edible, be sure to remove the decorations before serving and eating the food. This list of non-edible items can include feathers, ‘greenery,’ and other decorative items.
Talk to Your Baker. Buying, not baking? Talk to your bakery about the types of decorative products they use in their baked goods. Are they made with all-edible ingredients? When in doubt, ask to see the labels of the decorative products to ensure they are edible. And be informed about the glitter and dust products sold on the Internet. Ask the seller to provide ingredient information from the manufacturer before you buy. Anyone with allergy concerns should also be sure to consult ingredient statements on ingredients they purchase or those used in pre-prepared items. Stay food safe!
Authored by: Barb Ingham
