We
are issuing this guidance following the successful prosecution of the company
EdAble Art by West Yorkshire Trading Standards on 10 March 2014 for breaching
food safety legislation by selling cake glitter which was not of the nature
demanded and for supplying a non-approved food additive. EdAble Art was also
successfully prosecuted by Durham Trading Standards on 17 April 2014 for
similar offences under food safety legislation.
The
key points are below.
Permitted additives should be clearly
labelled
Any
glitter or dust intended to be consumed as part of a food must be composed of
permitted European Union (EU) additives or colours. These products will
typically include permitted additives (such as mica and titanium dioxide) often
mixed with food ingredients such as sugar or starch and must comply with the
requirements of EU food additives legislation, Regulation 1333/2008. They
should be labelled with both the:
- name and E-number of the additive
- statement ‘for food’ or ‘restricted
use in food’, or a more specific reference to their intended food use
(for example ‘edible lustre’)
Only glitter or dust clearly labelled in the above way
should be applied to food for consumption.
When ‘non-toxic’ is on the
label
Labels describing glitter and dusts as
‘non-toxic’ does not necessarily mean the products are safe to
consume.
When ‘FDA approved’ is on the
label
Glitters and dusts claimed as ‘FDA approved’
does not necessarily mean they comply with EU legislation.
When ‘for food contact’ should be on the
label
Glitters composed of materials that have been
safety-approved for contact with food can be applied to removable non-food
items, such as artificial flowers, figurine and candle holders which are placed
on food for decoration, provided they meet the requirements of food contact
materials legislation (European Regulation 1935/2004). They should be labelled
‘For food contact’ (or alternative wording to indicate their use)
and include instructions for use which should include an indication that they
should not be consumed. The glitter on these products should be fixed so it
does not fall onto the food, and it should be clear that the non-food items
should be removed entirely from the food before consumption.
Other glitters and dusts that should not be
used
Other glitters and dusts that are not EU-permitted
additives, or which do not meet the requirements of food contact materials
legislation, should not be used on any food or on any edible or non-edible
items that come into contact with food.
When to contact your supplier
Food businesses, retailers of cake decorations and home
bakers are advised to contact their supplier if they are unsure as to whether a
dust or glitter is fit for the purpose for which they intend using it, and
meets the requirements of the relevant legislation. If product labelling is not
clear they may wish to obtain the following information in writing from their
supplier:
If
the glitter or dust is intended to be added directly to food or to cake icing
or edible decorations:
- Does the glitter or dust meet the requirements of food
additives legislation i.e. is it composed of permitted EU additive/colours? If
so which additives/colours?
If
the glitter or dust is intended not to be added to food but to removable
non-food items, eg decorations which are to be placed on the
food:
- Does the glitter or dust meet the requirements of EU
food contact materials legislation?
- Can
the appropriate paperwork be made available to substantiate this (Declaration
of Compliance if a plastic, for example)?