Biodegradable Glitter vs Edible Glitter: Not the Same Question

Is biodegradable glitter the same as edible glitter? No, and confusing the two is how the wrong product ends up on food. "Biodegradable" describes what a material does in the environment. "Edible" describes whether a person may swallow it. They are answered by different rules and proven by different documents. The European microplastics restriction — Commission Regulation 2023/2055, in force since 17 October 2023 — targets synthetic polymer microparticles at 5 millimeters and under, expressly exempts food, and excludes polymers containing no carbon atoms. It was never a food rule. The US food question is answered separately: the FDA advises avoiding glitter and dust products on food unless they were specifically manufactured to be edible, and its test is whether the label carries an ingredient list at all. In this episode: - What Regulation 2023/2055 actually says, read carefully rather than paraphrased - Why "biodegradable" and "non-toxic" both answer questions adjacent to the one buyers are asking - The three documents to ask any supplier for — and why a safety data sheet is not one of them - The FDA's alias list, and its blunt label test - Dana's winning round: the episode explains a regulation and then refuses to apply it — and why that is the right call Who should skip it: crafters, for whom none of this applies; anyone buying purely on environmental impact, which is a different claim; and any business whose supplier will not produce a specification and a lot certificate. The MONÉGASQUE Snow White 10 g drink glitter is on Amazon with its full ingredient list printed on the jar — about $15; check the listing for current pricing. Full transcript on the episode page. New questions answered every week at The Monégasque Table.