E174 - Silver

At a glance

• Role: decorative food color that gives a bright, metallic silver look
• Common forms: leaf, flakes, or fine powder used on the surface of foods
• Typical uses: cake and pastry decoration, chocolate and sugar confectionery
• Taste and texture: neutral taste; adds visual shine only
• Stability: does not melt or dissolve during normal use on finished foods
• Regulations: allowed in the European Union (EU) with tight limits on where and how it can be used
• Not the same as “colloidal silver” supplements

Why is silver added to food?

Silver is used to make treats look special. As a color additive, it creates a reflective, metallic finish that other colors cannot easily match. In the European Union (EU), silver (E174) is authorized mainly for the external decoration of certain confectionery and similar uses, rather than for use throughout a food.¹ The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated E174 as a food additive and considered its use patterns and exposure from surface decoration.²

What foods contain silver?

You will most often find E174 on:

• Cake decorations such as silver leaf, flakes, or dust
• Sugar pearls and dragées used to decorate cookies and pastries
• The outer coating of some premium chocolates and confectionery

In the EU, its permitted uses focus on surface decoration of specific confectionery categories and similar decorative applications, not broad, everyday use across all foods.¹

What can replace silver?

Depending on the look you want:

• For another metallic look: gold
• For muted grays and browns: iron oxides and iron hydroxides
• For white or opacity (where allowed): titanium dioxide
• For shine without a metallic color: edible glazes like shellac or carnauba wax

How is silver made?

Food-grade E174 is high‑purity elemental silver that is processed into leaf, flakes, or fine powder for decorative use. EU specifications set requirements for purity and control impurities for silver used as a food additive.³

Is silver safe to eat?

Based on available data, EFSA concluded that exposure from the authorized, decorative use of E174 is low when used as intended for surface decoration; however, EFSA also noted uncertainties and recommended strict specifications to control particle characteristics and impurities.² This is separate from “colloidal silver” products, which are suspensions of silver particles sold as supplements. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) warns that colloidal silver can build up in the body and may cause argyria (a permanent blue‑gray discoloration of the skin) and other adverse effects.⁴ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also states that colloidal silver is not safe or effective for treating any disease or condition.⁵

Does silver have any benefits?

Silver adds visual appeal only. It is not a nutrient, and ingesting silver offers no proven health benefits. NIH specifically advises against colloidal silver for health purposes because it has not been shown to help any condition.⁴

Who should avoid silver?

• Anyone considering silver for “health” reasons should avoid colloidal silver supplements; FDA warns they are unsafe and ineffective.⁵
• If you have been told by your healthcare provider to avoid ingesting metallic particles for medical reasons, skip metallic decorative finishes.
• If you prefer to avoid metals in food decoration, choose non‑metallic glazes or colors instead.

Myths & facts

• Myth: “Edible silver is the same as colloidal silver.” Fact: E174 is a regulated decorative color for foods; colloidal silver is a supplement product and is not approved to treat any illness.⁵
• Myth: “Silver decorations improve shelf life.” Fact: E174 is used for color and shine, not preservation.
• Myth: “All silver used on food is nanoparticles.” Fact: EU specifications define the additive and set quality requirements for the silver used in foods.³

Silver in branded foods

On labels, look for “E174,” “silver,” “silver leaf,” “silver flakes,” or “silver dust.” You’ll most often see it on premium cakes, pastries, celebration desserts, and decorative confectionery. Many everyday products do not use it because it is meant for surface decoration and special finishes.

References

Footnotes

1. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives — Annex II (Union list of food additives approved for use in foods). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/1333/oj ↩ ↩²

2. Re‑evaluation of silver (E 174) as a food additive — EFSA Journal. https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4364 ↩ ↩²

3. Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 laying down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 — E 174 Silver. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/231/oj ↩ ↩²

4. Colloidal Silver: What You Need To Know — NIH/NCCIH. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/colloidal-silver-what-you-need-to-know ↩ ↩²

5. Colloidal Silver Is Not Safe or Effective for Treating Any Disease or Condition — FDA Consumer Update. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/colloidal-silver-not-safe-or-effective-treating-any-disease-or-condition ↩ ↩² ↩³