Popular Facebook Page Warns of Fake Edible Gold Leaf from China Being Sold for Baking Use

On May 25, 2025, the Facebook page Drama-addict posted a warning about counterfeit gold leaf from China. According to the post, a follower discovered shops selling baking supplies that were stocking Chinese gold leaf products. When the label was scanned and translated, it revealed the product was labeled as decorative gold leaf made from copper—not food-grade gold leaf—yet it was being sold in the food-grade section of stores and apps, with over 10,000 units already purchased.

The page's admin purchased samples for testing and found the price suspiciously cheap at only 20 baht per tube, which would be impossible for authentic gold leaf (genuine food-grade gold leaf at that quantity would cost thousands of baht). Testing revealed the fake product could be rolled into balls or crumbled when rubbed between fingers, unlike genuine gold leaf which disintegrates almost instantly. When burned, the counterfeit product immediately changed color, proving it was not real gold but rather a metal alloy like copper or iron that reacts with oxygen when heated.

The conclusion is that this product is not suitable for food use and is only meant for crafts. However, it is being sold both in physical stores and online as food-grade gold leaf for edible use. The danger is that consuming these products could expose people to heavy metals and toxins. Most alarming is that the checks on shopping apps suggest over 10,000 units have been sold, raising concerns about how many Thai consumers may have already unknowingly ingested these counterfeit products in food and baked goods.

The page is urging relevant authorities to urgently inspect and take action against this dangerous counterfeit product that poses a health risk to Thai consumers.