Episode Details

Is edible glitter vegan? Mineral-based sparkle contains no animal derivatives — but not every jar earns the word. For mineral-based glitter like MONÉGASQUE's, yes. Per the technical data sheet it is made entirely from minerals — no animal derivatives — and is listed as suitable for vegans and vegetarians. The full palette is mica-based pearlescent pigments, iron oxides, titanium dioxide in some shades, and synthetic FD&C colorants. But "vegan-suitable" is not "vegan-certified": no outside auditor has issued a certificate, so we don't use that word. For any other jar, the ingredient list is the check. In this episode: the whole mineral recipe, read out loud — why the sparkle is a rock trick, with nothing animal-derived in it. The real difference between "vegan-suitable" and "vegan-certified," and why a spec sheet isn't an audit — Dana wins that round. The one-line label check that works on any brand, plus the silent-label red flag: the category's most common ingredient complaint is sellers listing no ingredients at all. And why "it's just a pinch" isn't an answer — vegan is an origin question, not a dose question. Who should skip it: if your event or kitchen requires certified vegan with paper on file, we can't hand you that today — buy from a brand that can show you the certificate. And if you avoid synthetic dyes, check your shade first: some colors use FD&C colorants, while a few are mica-based pigments only, per the spec sheet. The jars from this episode: the MONÉGASQUE 7 g luster dust baking line, on Amazon — about $10 a jar at publish; check the listing for current pricing. Color additives, explained by the FDA: https://www.fda.gov/industry/color-additives Produced with AI-crafted hosts. Full transcript on the episode page. New questions answered every week at The Monégasque Table.