Sadly, it's not safe !!

Is it safe to eat sweets coated with silver foil (varakh)?

Sadly, it's not safe !!

Today, I was watching the recipe of my favorite kaju katli and that silver foil called 'Varak' caught my attention and I dug deep to find out the real facts and process of manufacturing silver foil.

I'm really surprised to know that 'Jains' prohibits consumption of 'Varak' !!! (I'm so unaware about it despite being a jain)

Moreover, some facts literally shocked me terribly!

AWARE !!

All that glitters are not healthy!

• Earlier, sweets are covered with real silver foil made from silver metal (which is beaten into extremely thin sheets) but nowadays because of increased cost, foils on sweets are artificial.
• Presently, most of the sweets are coated with aluminium (cheap and cost-effective) or poor quality silver. Traces of heavy metals like lead, copper, nickle are found which are poisonous.
• In the long run, if you consume these toxic metals it will lead to potential health problems. (People who are still consuming it's advisable to remove coating with nails then eat)
• They are certified to be safe for edible purpose only if - 99.9% purity is met!
• Process of manufacturing (SHOCKING)-
• Made from intestine of ox-gut. These ox-gut are obtained from slaughter houses.
• Their intestines are quickly removed and sold to foil manufacturers.
• Then, it is hammered there under unsanitary conditions.
• Mild traces of blood and flesh on foil are often present.
• Extremely unhygienic and unhealthy!

• Basically, It is by product of unorganized sector where there is no quality check or any law regulating entire process. Food manufacturers hardly care as they're involved in profit-making and they've not made any clear demarcations on whether the product is vegetarian or non-vegetarian.

If you're pure vegetarian, stay away from 'Varakh'.

Also, if you're non vegetarian and animal cruelty does not bother you, it's advisable to stay away from 'Varakh' for your health.

Hack to check whether silver foil is real or adulterated !!

1. Rub some silver leaf between the palms of your hand. If it is pure silver, it will disappear. If it's adulterated with aluminium, it will become a small ball.
2. Set a bit of the silver leaf on fire. If it turns into a ball of silver, it is authentic. If it burns completely and leaves greyish-black ashes behind, then it is adulterated with aluminium.