E175 Gold

E175ColorsOrigin: Mineral

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The short answer

Gold (E175) is pure edible leaf or dust used on sweets, cakes and drinks. It is essentially inert and passes through the body, and it is allowed in the EU for decoration but not as a color in the US.

90/100

Generally safe

Fine for most people at normal amounts.

E-numberE175

Comes fromMineral

What it doesColors

Glycemic index—

Daily limitNot set

Also calledGold, Edible gold

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDANot evaluated as an additive

🇪🇺 European UnionApproved with limits

🇨🇦 Health CanadaNot evaluated as an additive

CaliforniaNo extra rules

Not approved as a food color in the US or Canada. The EU permits gold for decoration on sweets, cakes and drinks. Pure gold is essentially inert and passes through the body unchanged, so the main question is labeling, not toxicity.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

Edible gold is beaten so thin that it can be laid on a chocolate or cake. It is chemically unreactive, so the body does not absorb it in any meaningful amount. Its only role on food is to look expensive and bright.

Where it comes from: Mined as a metal, then beaten into leaf or ground into powder for decoration. Food-grade gold is pure gold and is not reactive in the body.

Why it’s in food

Gilded decoration on cakes
Flakes in liqueurs
Shine on chocolates
Traditional festive look

Often found in

Gilded chocolates (EU)Gold-flake liqueursDecorated cakesFestive sweets

Also listed as: Gold, Edible gold, Gold leaf, Gold dust, Gold flakes

Health & gut impact

Inert metalBenefit

Pure gold does not react with stomach acid and passes through the digestive tract, which is why it is used in small amounts for decoration.

EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008

LabelingConcern

Because gold is not a US food color, US packages should not list it as one. The issue is regulation, not safety.

US FDA color additive listings

Gild desserts with a food-safe finish

For your pantry

Pantry staple

Gold-colored sugar sprinkles

Colored with turmeric, no metal.

Shop turmeric sprinkles Opens your country’s Amazon store

Pantry staple

Pearl sugar

A clean, crunchy decoration.

Shop pearl sugar Opens your country’s Amazon store

Clean grocery swap

Plant-based edible glitter

Shimmer without metal.

Shop plant-based edible glitter Opens your country’s Amazon store

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes our ratings.

What can I use instead?

Gold-colored sugar sprinkles

Ratio: 1:1

Best for: Golden decoration

Edible metallic paint with plant color

Ratio: To taste

Best for: Gilding at home

More colors:

Allura Red AC (Red 40) E129Red 40 (E129) is a petroleum-based dye. It's legal in the US and EU, but European packages must carry a warning about hyperactivity in children, and California is removing it from school food.Best to avoid Aluminium E173Aluminium (E173) is a metallic silver-gray powder used on some European sugar decorations and sweets. It is used in tiny amounts, and it is not approved as a food color in the US.Use in moderation Amaranth dye E123Amaranth dye (E123) is a synthetic red that the US banned in 1976. Europe still allows tiny uses. It is not the amaranth seed sold as a gluten-free grain.Best to avoid Ammonia caramel (Caramel III) E150cAmmonia caramel (E150c) is the caramel class made with ammonia and no sulfite, common in beer. It is approved, but like cola caramel it can contain 4-MEI, which California lists under Proposition 65.Use in moderation

Common questions

Is edible gold leaf safe to eat?

Pure gold is inert and passes through the body. It has little nutritional value, and it is not approved as a US food color.

Is Gold safe?

Generally safe (90/100). Not approved as a food color in the US or Canada. The EU permits gold for decoration on sweets, cakes and drinks. Pure gold is essentially inert and passes through the body unchanged, so the main question is labeling, not toxicity.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations

EFSA OpenFoodTox: E175
EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008
US FDA color additive listings

INS 175 · CAS 7440-57-5