Edible Plates: A Risk for Celiac Disease

What Happened? Why are people eating plates?

Who wants to eat plates? There’s a new craze with edible plates. Crazy right? Well, of course, the celiac disease community has a lot of questions about whether this is safe. In this post, we will dive into why celiacs should avoid eatable plates.

Not only does the plate not taste great, but a new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has confirmed that it contains wheat and can be absorbed through your food.

Study on Edible Plates

They tested 8 different types of editable tableware samples, and found that most of them contain wheat. Interestingly, one particular plate contained traces high enough to cause cross-contamination. In other words, the “table 5” sample, which was an edible plate, contained high gluten levels that could be transferred to gluten-free food on the plate.

download the study

Chart of Biodegradable Tableware Information regarding edible plates — Chart of 5 different plates tested, Potential Transfer of Toxic Gluten from Biodegradable Tableware to Gluten-Free Foods: Implications for Individuals with Gluten-Related Disorders

What’s Happening Now

Besides the need for biodegradable materials, I’m not really sure where this edible plate trend originated. We don’t eat straws or cups, so why would we eat plates? I mean, unless we are visiting Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and offered a chocolate cup, I don’t see the point of eating tableware. On the Celiac Cruise, they utilize the Strawfish brand for their straws. As part of the Save the Waves Recycling Program, and for sustainability purposes, Royal Caribbean committed to eliminating the one-time use of straws. Still, these straws aren’t edible.

Willy Wonka eating an edible cup, and holding an edible plate

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/01/cb/d3/01cbd3eae982dfd0d4e4d1f7b81f30eb.gif

What This Means For You

Stay away from any edible plates or tableware that say edible or edible. They are not safe for people with celiac disease.

Do not ask AI if you can eat a plate. I ran the question through Gemini, and it said to check the labeling for gluten ingredients. Reality check: Tableware doesn’t have to list food ingredients; FDA rules do not apply to food contact materials (FCM), like plates. Here’s the incorrect information I received through Gemini, which rated the highest for celiac disease information:

The Golden Rule: Always check the packaging for a “Gluten-Free” label or a specific ingredient list (like corn, potato, or fallen leaves) before using or consuming edible tableware.

This increasing trend of using biodegradable edible plates poses a significant risk to people with gluten allergies and celiac disease.

What You Should Do Now Regarding Edible Plates

Take this as an opportunity to learn more about how your tableware, like plates, cups, and straws, are made. Then ask yourself if they are safe for people with celiac disease? Also, now is a good time to review other ways that gluten can be transferred, commonly known as cross-contamination. In closing, remember that gluten-free labeling only encompasses food, and not edible materials like plates.