Silver
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Description
The food additive E174, known as silver, is a metallic colorant used mainly to decorate confectionery products and some liqueurs. It is available as fine powder, flakes, or sheets, and is inorganic in origin, obtained from metallic silver.
Industrially, silver is extracted from ores or recycled, then purified through electrolytic or chemical processes. Subsequently, it is rolled or pulverized to the desired particle size, usually less than 100 microns, to ensure dispersion and shine. Physically, silver is a noble metal, bright white, odorless and tasteless, with high thermal and electrical conductivity. Its main function in food is decorative, providing a shiny, metallic appearance to products such as cakes, chocolates, alcoholic beverages, and coatings.
The history of its use in food dates back to antiquity, where it was used to decorate royal dishes. In the European Union, silver was authorized as a food additive in Directive 95/45/EC and is currently regulated by Regulation (EC) 1333/2008. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated the safety of E174 on several occasions. In 2016, EFSA established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0.9 mg/kg body weight/day, based on oral toxicity studies in animals that showed adverse effects at high doses, such as skin discoloration (argyria) and accumulation in tissues.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also evaluated silver, concluding that there is no evidence of carcinogenicity in humans. However, the safety of E174 is controversial due to the potential accumulation of silver nanoparticles in the body, which could generate long-term toxic effects. Therefore, EFSA recommends limiting its use to decorative applications and in minimal amounts.
On labeling, it must appear as "colorant" or "E174", and in some countries a warning about its silver content is required. In summary, E174 is a safe food additive within established limits, but its use should be moderate and controlled.
E174 is mainly used as a decorative colorant in confectionery products such as cakes, pastries, cookies, and chocolates, as well as in alcoholic beverages (liqueurs, cocktails) and edible coatings.
In the Spanish market, it is found in products such as silver leaves for decorating desserts, silver powder for sprinkling, and in some high-end liqueurs. According to Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, silver is authorized in the EU as a colorant for use in foods, with maximum limits varying by category: for example, in spirits (except cream liqueurs) up to 0.1 mg/kg is allowed, while in confectionery decoration there is no specific limit, but the principle of minimum necessary quantity applies. In comparison, the FDA (USA) does not have a specific regulation for silver as a food additive, although its use is allowed in some products as decoration, but with restrictions. Japan also permits its use in certain foods, but with stricter limits.
In general, the use of E174 is highly restricted to decorative applications and is not allowed in mass-consumption foods.
Documented adverse effects of E174 are mainly related to chronic exposure to high doses, which can cause argyria, an irreversible condition characterized by gray-blue discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to silver deposition in tissues. This effect is more common from occupational exposure or consumption of colloidal silver supplements, not from use as a food additive in permitted amounts.
The biological mechanism involves absorption of silver particles in the gastrointestinal tract, systemic distribution, and accumulation in organs such as the liver, kidney, and skin. Sensitive populations include people with kidney or liver diseases, as silver elimination is slower. No significant interactions with medications have been documented.
EFSA, in its 2016 evaluation, concluded that dietary exposure to silver from its use as a food additive is low and does not pose a health risk to the general population, provided established limits are respected. The WHO also considers silver not carcinogenic to humans. However, there is controversy about the potential effects of silver nanoparticles, which could cross biological barriers and generate oxidative stress.
Therefore, EFSA recommends minimal and controlled use.
- Silver
- C.I. 77820
- Metallic silver
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