Gold-plated meat has no health benefits

One of the scenes that drew attention in this World Cup was that of part of the Brazilian team players eating gold-plated meat. Athletes Vinícius Jr, Éder Militão and Gabriel Jesus, accompanied by former player Ronaldo Fenômeno, dined at the Nusr-Et restaurant, owned by Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe, where the price of meat can reach R$ 9,000. But, after all, does eating gold bring any health benefits?

The nutritionist from the Faculty of Public Health at USP (University of São Paulo), Viviane Laudelino Vieira, explains that eating gold is more for status and glamor than benefits. “Gold has already been used in confectionery to give a touch of refinement, sophistication, but we have no literature on the benefits of its consumption”, says the nutritionist.

She explains that the amount consumed by athletes is small and gold is not absorbed by the body. “They consumed 24-carat gold, but you have to be careful about the purity of the gold because there are other chemical elements and metals that can pose a risk to your health,” she explains.

Oncologist and oncogeneticist Bruno Filardi, from the Ribeirão Preto Cancer Institute, agrees. He comments that the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) considers the consumption of up to 0.33 micrograms per kilogram per day to be safe and says that the gold should be E175, which is purer. “Gold in its natural state is very little absorbed and consumption, as it was with the players, sporadically and in a reliable place is not harmful to health.”

“The problem is if consumption becomes a fad and is present in sweets at parties and drinks without knowing whether this gold is pure or in very small particles that can be absorbed by the body”, explains the doctor.

He says that edible gold leaf is easily found on the internet, but that there is no regulation by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) and there is no information about the purity and origin of this material. “In the long term it can be absorbed and cause problems both in the liver and in the spleen, for example”, says Filardi, who explains that there are no conclusive studies on whether there is a relationship between gold consumption and some type of cancer.

Nutritionist Desire Coelho says that there are practically no studies in humans, mainly due to possible cytotoxicity. “Our body does not metabolize gold. Therefore, increased or frequent consumption can be toxic to the organism”, she reports.

She explains that there are studies in animal models showing that even the consumption of nanoparticles can cause harm. “It can accumulate in the liver and spleen, causing toxicity. But that is if consumption is increased or frequent. So, assuming that it has no support for health, its sporadic consumption and in small amounts does not bring harm or benefits, it would be one more cultural and ostentatious issue”, he says.

Other minerals

Vieira comments that in our food we naturally consume minerals such as iron, copper and zinc. “Iron, for example, is fundamentally important for our health. In childhood it can cause developmental delay and low intake is associated with anemia”, he says. Iron is present, for example, in meat, egg yolk, legumes and dark green vegetables.

“Copper is a nutrient partner of iron and helps in the constitution of our blood and is important for our immunity. It is present in meat, seeds, dairy products, some seeds and oilseeds. Zinc has an antioxidant function and participates in some reactions for the synthesis of proteins, fats and carbohydrates and it is also present in foods of animal origin, in peas, lentils, cocoa, chestnuts etc. You can obtain it both in foods of animal and vegetable origin.”

Coelho says that we indirectly consume metals, such as mercury and aluminum, which in large concentrations can bring toxicity to our bodies. “Mercury contamination can occur with fish consumption; aluminum is commonly used in some deodorants”, explains the nutritionist.

Repercussion of the case

The consumption of players generated criticism on social networks after the video was shared. One of them was made by Father Julio Lancellotti, who wrote: “While millions around the world are starving, a video of this one comes to us, acrimonious, and which causes indignation and sadness.”

In an interview with the PodPah podcast, former player Ronaldo countered the criticism by saying that consuming the dish “has nothing wrong with it and can even be inspiring for other people”.