E173 – Aluminium

Description

Metallic element

Risks

Notes

Aluminium (E173) is pure metallic aluminium that has been processed into an extremely fine powder or thin flakes specifically for food use. The aluminium used in food applications is the same lightweight metal you'd recognize from kitchen foil or drink cans, but it's been refined and ground down to microscopic particles that create a brilliant silver appearance. This processing involves taking pure aluminium and mechanically grinding it under controlled conditions to achieve the right particle size for safe consumption. This additive serves purely as a decorative colourant, giving foods an eye-catching metallic silver finish. You'll typically find it used as an edible decoration on luxury chocolates, fancy cakes, wedding confections, and premium confectionery items where a glamorous metallic sheen is desired. It's essentially edible glitter that adds visual appeal without contributing any flavour to the food. Aluminium E173 is a mineral-based additive rather than something derived from plants or animals, making it suitable for vegetarian, vegan, and all religious dietary requirements. However, there are some safety considerations - while it's approved for food use in small decorative amounts, aluminium can accumulate in the body over time, so it's generally recommended to consume it only occasionally as part of special occasion foods rather than regularly.