Is Edible Glitter Safe? Bakell's Guide to FDA-Approved Shimmers

If you’ve been looking at sparkly lattes, pancakes, cakes and cookies and wondering if the glitter used is really edible, you’re not alone. Edible glitter for cake decoration, food, and drinks is all the rage, but in order to be safe, you need to make sure the glitter you're using has FDA approved ingredients and is really edible. We'll explain what to look for in your next purchase to make sure the glitter you are about to get is actually food safe.

Is Edible Glitter Safe?

The truth of the matter is that, yes, edible glitter is safe. However, not all glitters that are listed as "non-toxic" in their descriptions were made to be eaten.

Therefore, home and commercial bakers need to pay attention to the ingredient lists in order to ensure that the glitter can truly be eaten without causing harm.

Look at the Ingredients in Edible Glitter

Glitters that are safe to eat include an ingredients list and should clearly state it's been FDA approved. The packaging should also state that the glitter is food-grade or edible. Common ingredients in food-grade glitter include:

• Sugar
• Acacia or gum arabic
• Maltodextrin
• Cornstarch
• Dextrose
• Mica based pearlescent pigments
• FD&C colors

The entire Bakell® edible glitter product line, from Brew Glitter to Tinker Dust, is the only one on the market currently that uses all FDA compliant ingredients and even made in an FDA approved facility. It is 100% edible and food grade, and is also vegan, dairy and nut free, as well as non GMO and made right here in the USA.

How to Ensure You're Buying FDA Approved Edible Glitter

In order to ensure that you are purchasing FDA approved edible glitter, you need to pay attention to the packaging or online description if you're purchasing through e-commerce stores. FDA approved edible glitters are required to list the ingredients on the label. If there isn’t an ingredients list, it shouldn't be assumed it's food-safe or edible.

If the label or description states that the glitter is merely 'non-toxic' or 'only for decorative purposes,' then you should consider if these are right for your project. These glitters may contain plastic or metal pieces or other ingredients that should never be eaten and may be harmful, even if it is listed as non-toxic.

Additionally, if you can’t find the information you need to determine whether or not the glitter is edible or safe to consume, you can ask the seller to provide information directly from the manufacturer. Of course, if you can’t determine whether or not the product can be safely consumed, assume it cannot be and search for a different product.

What to Do if You can’t find an Edible Glitter in Your Preferred Color

If you absolutely must have a certain color on your cake, dessert or other food product, the FDA recommends taking steps to ensure all the glitter can be removed from the food before consuming. This means that you’d most likely only be able to use it on decorative features that are removed before the cake is cut.

Rest assured, Bakell® has tirelessly worked to formulate safe, edible shimmers and glitters that cover a broad range of colors or hues. From iridescent shimmers to a broad range of basic colors in the spectrum, our deep catalogue ensures you have complete control of your bake.

Is Edible Glitter Safe for Animals?

You’ll want to keep your edible glitter away from your furry family members. However, if your dog or cat happens to get into your edible glitter, it probably won’t harm them as the ingredients are food-grade.

However, if you do have pets and want to purchase edible glitter, you will need to make sure that the glitter does not contain ingredients that are known to be harmful to dogs and cats, like artificial sweeteners, chocolate and caffeine.

If your dog does eat your glitter and you’re not sure, it’s always best to contact your veterinarian to see if you need to bring your pet into the office for an exam and treatment.

Edible Glitter from Bakell®

If you want safe, edible and affordable glitter for your next baking project, Bakell® sells edible dust and glitter that contains FDA approved, food-grade ingredients, including dextrose, food-grade mica based pigments, FD&C colors and cornstarch. All of our glitters are nut, dairy and gluten-free and do not contain any tastes or textures. Our edible glitters and dusts are also halal-certified and kosher.

To get your edible dusts and glitters quickly and affordably, start shopping now in the Bakell online store.