What do you think about gold in/on food?

[Blobbenstein]

I saw a documentary a few months ago about some people gold mining in Mongolia(I think), and after a hard day's work all they had was a small bit of gold dust, and that was typical for a day's work, and not worth that much.

Also I have read that gold mining is environmentally damaging in some parts of the world, with the release of mercury into the rivers, or some such thing.

So I find it sort of disrespectful for it to be used just as a decorative addition to food, when it is just going to pass out of the body and into the sewage system...Disrespectful of the cost to humans and the planet to obtain the stuff.

I've never eaten it myself, and am unlikely to, but it does get on my nerves.

 

[RabbitLuvr]

I always found it to be unnecessary and unbelievably wasteful, even before I knew anything about gold mining.

It used to be more of a luxury thing, so I didn't worry too much about it. Now, though, it seems to be more widely available and at a lower price. It really bothers me now.

 

[sequoia]

I had no idea that people actually eat gold. It does seem pointless.

 

[Second Summer]

I've eaten gold! It was served at an ISKCON restaurant as decor on a cake.

I agree it's wasteful. Won't do it again!

 

[ledboots]

I drank some liqueur with supposed actual gold flecks in it. It was German I think, called something like Goldshlager?

 

[SuicideBlonde]

Goldschlager, cinnamon schnapps.

 

[yakherder]

And here I thought I'd eaten everything...

In defense of the Mongolian miners, they are poorer than most of us can even imagine, and those in Outer Mongolia especially living in some pretty harsh conditions. When I was studying in China I actually went on a hike through parts of Outer Mongolia with some of my classmates and we brought various types of fresh fruit that wouldn't spoil too quickly, like apples, to use as gifts in villages we came to. Many of the children in these villages had never even had fruit before because it became too expensive with the collapse of the Soviet Union, their only regular trade partner for such things.

I'd agree that gold dust on food is ridiculously wasteful, but I could say the same for many of the other things we've come to "rely" on. But in the end it's all about supply and demand and people doing what they have to do to survive. Try explaining environmental concerns to people who are so poor their children have never had fruit before.

 

[thefadedone]

I drank some liqueur with supposed actual gold flecks in it. It was German I think, called something like Goldshlager?

It was really popular when I was in high school. Goldshlager was what all the cool kids drank.

 

[AspireToExpire]

Goldschlager, cinnamon schnapps.

**** tore my throat up.

Gold/diamonds/pearls/rhinestones in food- stupid.

 

[TreeHugger]

I drank some liqueur with supposed actual gold flecks in it. It was German I think, called something like Goldshlager?

Me too, and good LORD it was disgusting.

I nearly vomited on my friends shoes.

 

[TreeHugger]

And here I thought I'd eaten everything...

In defense of the Mongolian miners, they are poorer than most of us can even imagine, and those in Outer Mongolia especially living in some pretty harsh conditions. When I was studying in China I actually went on a hike through parts of Outer Mongolia with some of my classmates and we brought various types of fresh fruit that wouldn't spoil too quickly, like apples, to use as gifts in villages we came to. Many of the children in these villages had never even had fruit before because it became too expensive with the collapse of the Soviet Union, their only regular trade partner for such things.

I'd agree that gold dust on food is ridiculously wasteful, but I could say the same for many of the other things we've come to "rely" on. But in the end it's all about supply and demand and people doing what they have to do to survive. Try explaining environmental concerns to people who are so poor their children have never had fruit before.

Of course, I don't think the Mongolian miners are to blame at all. Anyone that said they could look at their child starving and not mine for gold is lying.

It is all supply and demand after all, if idiots, including myself, had never drank Goldshlagen etc. (not that I would again as it's minging) then they wouldn't mine for it.