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E175 Gold – Food Colourant Explained

E175 is the EU food additive code for Gold, a metallic colourant approved exclusively for the decorative surface coating of certain foods such as chocolate and confectionery.

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Things worth knowing about "E175"

E175 is the EU food additive code for Gold, a metallic colourant approved exclusively for the decorative surface coating of certain foods such as chocolate and confectionery.

What is E175 (Gold)?

E175 is the official European designation for the food colourant Gold (chemical symbol: Au). It is a metallic precious metal in finely distributed or leaf form, used in the food industry exclusively as a decorative colourant. Gold is known under the Colour Index number CI 77480 and belongs to the group of inorganic colourants.

Origin and Production

The gold used in food is mined and then processed into very thin leaves (known as gold leaf) or fine powders. The purity of food-grade gold is generally at least 22 carats (approximately 91.6% purity), often 23 or 24 carats. Strict purity requirements in accordance with EU regulations apply to its use as a food additive.

Use in Food Products

In the European Union, E175 may only be used for the external decoration of specific food products. Typical areas of application include:

Decorative coating of chocolate and confectionery
Decoration of sugar confections and sweets
Embellishment of baked goods and cakes
Use in alcoholic beverages (e.g. gold schnapps or liqueurs) in some countries
Decorative finishing of cheese (external treatment only)

Use is restricted to purely decorative purposes and is subject to strict EU regulations (EU Regulation No. 1333/2008 and Regulation (EU) No. 231/2012).

Safety and Health Assessment

Gold is considered biologically inert, meaning it is neither absorbed nor metabolised by the human body. It generally passes through the digestive tract unchanged and is excreted. For this reason, E175 is classified as safe by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) when used as intended. No Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) limit values have been established, as no toxicological risks are known at typical usage levels.

Allergic reactions to pure food-grade gold are extremely rare. However, individuals with a known gold allergy (e.g. from jewellery contact) should exercise caution, even though the risk from oral contact is considered very low.

Labelling and Regulation

Foods containing E175 must declare this additive on the ingredient list either as E175 or as Gold. Use is permitted in the EU only for specific food categories and is governed by EU Food Additives Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008.

References

European Commission: Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives. Official Journal of the European Union, 2008.
EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources (ANS): Re-evaluation of gold (E 175) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 2016.
European Commission: Regulation (EU) No. 231/2012 laying down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008. 2012.

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