Raksha Bandhan and other Indian festivals are full of happiness and togetherness, delicious food, and sweets that are often hard to resist. Although its best to take advantage of occasion and celebrate the event while in the festive mood, one should also be mindful of the festive delicacies and how they affect our health over time. The sweets are often seen lacquered with silver foil nowadays. But is silver foil on sweets safe for health?
Silver foil (also know as varak) is edible silver that is in the form of a very thin sheet. It is used as decoration for traditional sweets like barfi and gulab jamun. It looks shiny while giving the sweet a rich, festive feel. Not only is silver foil used for beauty, it is also a traditional practice, particularly during festivals or celebrations.
Varak is made when a factory takes pure silver and hammers it between some special sheets until it thins out more and more. Traditionally in India, varak was made using animal membranes, but using machines and non-animal membranes is the new standard to keep it safe. Pure varak must have 99.9% silver and adhere to food safety standards.
Yes, provided it is pure silver made safely and in very small amounts, silver foil is safe to consume. Silver is biologically inert, which means it will simply pass through your body without causing harm.
Not all silver foil is safe. Silver foils that are cheaper in price, may be made with harmful metals such as aluminum or lead. These fake foils can cause serious health concerns like metal poisoning. Always check to see if your product has got food-grade certification.
You can usually identify real silver foil by looking for a smooth, shiny surface on the foil. Foil that looks dull, torn, or has uneven color is generally not real foil. Buy only from trusted brands that can provide safety certifications. Always be cautious of foil if the price is suspiciously low – it could be imitation foil!
No, silver foil has no major nutrients and presents no caloric value or proteins. While some ancient texts reference silver is have healing powers, there are little scientific verifications. To date, so scientific studies have shown silver can deter bacteria or lead to better digestion.
In India, the FSSAI regulates where edible silver, for example, must meet pure standards. In other countries, international regulations such as Codex Alimentarius also regulate metals classified for edible-use for safety.
Yes, whenever possible, use natural decorations. Options you can use instead of foil can include dried fruits, edible flowers, etc. Additionally, there are also plant-based edible coatings that are safe for human consumption – to use as an edible decoration (it is attractive, edible, and biodegradable).
Based on the research, unless you eat in massive quantities, it is generally safe to eat small amounts of silver foil, only if the silver foil is made from real silver and clean.
Also Read: Eating Prawns During Monsoon: Is It Harmful? Or Just A Myth?
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