Gold has been used over the centuries in food and drink to add a level of luxury and indulgence to food and drink. Added as edible gold flakes or a thinly beaten strip to food it can give food a special look.
Gold is a chemically inert metal which means that it wont break down into other, potentially harmful, substances during digestion. Gold used in food or drink, however, must be between 23 and 24 carats and be at least 90% pure – this ensures that it does not contain any other elements that could be harmful.
Using gold with food is all about appearance since the metal has no flavor or smell associated with it. It is not absorbed from the digestive tract into the bloodstream and is simply passed through the body as waste. With the price of gold at the levels it is this seems a particularly expensive garnish but does give food a unique appearance.