Looking for an FDA approved EDIBLE gold dust that is still shiny?! What does edible and non-toxic even mean? This post is full of all the explanations and links to my top ten favorite shiny, edible gold luster dusts!!
Don't worry though. I've got you covered with...once again...probably more information that you really want to know when it comes to choosing the shiniest edible gold dusts on the planet.
And if you want to skip all that good ol' fashioned unsolicited advice and learning -- CLICK HERE
to jump to my top ten recommended edible gold dusts.
Still with me?
Let's first make sure we are on the same page with some definitions.
What is the difference between EDIBLE and NON-TOXIC and FDA APPROVED when it comes to gold and silver luster dusts?
WHAT IS NON-TOXIC GOLD DUST?
Non-toxic means it won't harm you if you eat it. Common items that are considered non-toxic are things like paper, sharpie markers, chalk, glue, and play-do. See a pattern here? These items are usually not considered "food" items. CAN you eat them? Yes. SHOULD you eat them? That's your call to make. They won't make you sick. I'm pretty sure we all know people who have eaten every single one of those things and are probably healthy and successful adults.BUT...and this is a big one... if you are selling food items in the United States, you are required to register your business and adhere to applicable food safety laws in your state and/or county. You need to check with them before selling ANY ITEM that has an ingredient that hasn't been approved by the FDA. (Read the FDA Advisory about edible vs. non-toxic luster dusts HERE.)
WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF A GOLD OR SILVER DUST IS FDA APPROVED?
The FDA is the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration -- the federal agency that is " responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety...of our nation's food supply..." FDA approval means that the food item in question has been reviewed by the FDA and has been determined to be "safe for its intended purpose."
If a luster dust is NOT FDA approved, it doesn't mean it's bad. It could be bad. It could be fine. Usually though, it just means that it hasn't been submitted for approval.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF A GOLD OR SILVER DUST IS EDIBLE?
Edible means that the governing body in the country it is being sold in has approved it for human consumption. In the United States, that means it's FDA approved. Edible and FDA-approved are usually interchangeable.
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A GOLD OR SILVER DUST IS EDIBLE OR FDA APPROVED AND NOT JUST NON-TOXIC?
If a gold or silver luster dust is edible or FDA approved, it should state one or both of those things on the label. It should also have an ingredient list.
If you live outside the United States, look for the approval from the governing body of your own country. Some items approved in the United States may not be approved in Europe or Australia and vice versa. (Again...not having the approval may just mean it's never been submitted to that agency.)
If the packaging or listing uses any of the following terms, the dust is considered non-toxic and is not regulated by a food safety governing body:
* non-edible
* non-toxic
* craft dust
* remove before eating
* for decorative purposes only
IF THE GOLD AND SILVER LUSTER DUSTS ARE NON-TOXIC AND NOT EDIBLE, WHY DO PEOPLE USE THEM ON CAKES AND COOKIES?
Longer answer: People make their own choices. Do some people (children) (maybe adults. I don't know. I'm not judging. You do you.) eat play-do? Yes. I remember a whole month in middle school where the boys all tried to see who could eat the biggest piece of paper in less than 60 seconds. It was horrifying to watch...but I did. You can be sure of that.
When it comes to personal food choices, we all have the right to our own personal decisions. The cookies/cakes/other confectionery creations that we make for our own home and our families aren't really regulated.
When it comes to food items that are sold to the general public...well...those are regulated by Health Departments and the FDA in the United States.
The edibility of these luster dusts only came into question by the FDA and the baking community at large in the United States about ten years ago. The non-toxic dusts had been used for years without a second thought. I don't know of a single person that has ever become sick from eating an item containing them. And most bakers can say the same. The non-toxic dusts are definitely shinier than their FDA approved counterparts. It's a reallllllly hard thing to let go of for many bakers.
In fact, many cake decorators still use the non-toxic dusts on parts of a design that are easily removed. They get the best of both worlds.
Cookie decorators rarely have the same option with gold dusts in their designs. Not much of cookie decorations are regularly removed before eating.
So what's a cookie decorator to do?
I'm SO GLAD you asked.
WHAT ARE THE BEST AND SHINIEST FDA APPROVED AND EDIBLE GOLD LUSTER DUSTS ON THE MARKET?
I bought about eleventy-four edible gold dusts this spring. I literally ordered one of every edible or FDA approved gold dust that I could find. For you. Because I'm so thoughtful like that. And I tried them all out. And made a GIANT mess in my kitchen. For you. And I picked my top ten favorite EDIBLE and FDA APPROVED gold dusts and put them on some cookies. And then took a near infinity of photos because, as it turns out...it's REALLY hard to get a good photo of something shiny on a cookie.
(I KNOW that you know what I'm talking about.)
But before I show you the photo, let me explain it to you. Because there's a whole lot more than 10 dots of gold icing in the photo below.
(You just scrolled down, didn't you?)
Eight of the gold dusts were in fact DUSTS. Two of them were in liquid form.
Each cookie has a dot of white icing on the left and a dot of yellow icing on the right. I always recommend using a yellow-gold icing underneath something you plan to paint gold. It covers better and mistakes are not as obvious. But it's easier to see the coverage strength or weakness with white icing. So... I have both on each cookie.
For each of the dusts, I mixed a small amount with water and a small amount with 190 proof Everclear. The Everclear dots are...across the board...SIGNIFICANTLY shinier. However...the gold tends to rub off of those icing dots, while the gold that was mixed with water stays on the icing perfectly.
I used the two golds that are in liquid form to paint directly on to the icing dots. I didn't mix them with anything.
**NOTE*** The left icing dots are all dented because I used OLD ICING. I was lazy. Pure and simple. The dent/craters have nothing to do with the gold I used. I have only myself to blame. 🤣🤣 Sorry about that!
In no particular order, my top ten favorite edible gold luster dusts --
Because I KNOW you are going to ask. Here are my PERSONAL top five favorites...in order.
(I think it's important that you know that I don't like golds that have a yellow undertone. I prefer a brown undertone or even a greenish undertone over the more yellow golds.)
BUT... my absolute favorite is actually a mix of two different gold dusts.
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