In October 2021, a bakery in Leeds found out the hard way that a product being legal to buy doesn’t mean it’s legal to use.
Get Baked, known for its raspberry glazed doughnut cookies and a towering cake called “Birthday Bruce,” had been using American-imported sprinkles for months. Then Trading Standards turned up after an anonymous customer reported the shop, and inspectors found the sprinkles contained a red food dye not approved for general use in the UK. The bakery was told to stop using them immediately.
The story, which the owner dubbed “Sprinklegate” and which was picked up by outlets from the BBC to NPR, is a genuinely useful case study for anyone sourcing decorations from overseas.
The Get Baked Story: What Actually Happened
Get Baked had been sourcing sprinkles through a UK wholesaler that had, in turn, imported them from America. Trading Standards found they contained E127, also known as erythrosine, a bright red dye widely used in the US but only permitted in the UK for cocktail cherries and candied cherries. In sprinkles, cake decorations, and most confectionery, it isn’t allowed at all.
The owner was blunt about his frustration, doubting he’d find a UK-legal replacement he liked as much. But the underlying lesson holds regardless: a product being freely available to order online from America says nothing about whether it’s legal to use on a cake sold here. That gap between the two markets is what catches most bakers out, not carelessness.
What Is E127 (Erythrosine) and Why Is It Restricted?
E127 isn’t dangerous in the way a banned substance usually implies, but UK regulators have taken a more cautious position on it than most people realise. It’s permitted here, just narrowly: cocktail and candied cherries only. Everywhere else it might show up, including sprinkles, icing, and cake decorations, it isn’t approved.
The reasoning comes down to how UK and EU regulators assess additives. Some research has linked erythrosine to hyperactivity in children and, in animal studies, an increased risk of thyroid tumours, so regulators took a precautionary view: restrict its use tightly rather than wait for firmer evidence. The US historically took the opposite approach, approving it more broadly under the assumption that it’s fine unless proven otherwise. That gap is narrowing, though: in January 2025 the FDA moved to ban erythrosine from US food entirely, with enforcement due to begin in January 2027.
This same precautionary pattern shows up elsewhere. Understanding titanium dioxide and E171 compliance for edible decorations follows similar logic: a colour widely used in America that UK and EU regulators have taken a stricter line on.
Are All American Sprinkles Illegal in the UK?
Not automatically, though checking properly takes more effort than most people put in. The US market is enormous, and plenty of colours used there are also approved in the UK. A sprinkle brand that happens to use only UK-approved dyes would be perfectly legal to import.
The catch is that many popular American brands do use E127 or similar restricted colours, precisely because US regulation has historically allowed it more freely. Without reading the ingredient list closely, there’s no way to know which side of that line a given product falls on. The safest working assumption, unless you’ve actually checked, is that an imported American sprinkle mix probably needs a closer look before it goes anywhere near a cake you’re selling.
How UK and US Food Colour Rules Differ
The regulatory gap is real, even if it’s narrowing in places. America has historically approved around 40 food colours; the UK’s list is shorter, and several dyes cleared in the US face restrictions here that don’t exist there, E123, E128, and E110 among them, alongside E127. Understanding synthetic vs natural food colours: a baker’s guide is a useful next read if you want the fuller picture of why these lines get drawn where they do.
It’s also worth knowing that the same brand can sell different formulations in different markets. A product approved and sold in the US isn’t necessarily made the same way as a European or UK version carrying the same name, so brand recognition alone tells you very little about compliance.
What to Check Before Using Imported Decorations
Before ordering anything from America, read the ingredient list properly. If E127, E123, E128, E110, or E104 appear, treat that as a stop sign, not a maybe. Understanding what edible glitter is made of helps you recognise which components are likely to cause a problem.
Beyond the label, ask the supplier directly whether the product has been verified for UK use. A legitimate supplier will know, and should have documentation; hesitation or vagueness is itself useful information. It’s also worth remembering that “natural” and “non-toxic” aren’t the same claim as “legal to use here.” Something not being harmful doesn’t automatically mean it’s permitted in food.
Conclusion
Are American sprinkles legal in the UK? Sometimes, but not by default, and the Get Baked story is a useful reminder of how quickly that can become an expensive lesson rather than a theoretical one.
Before ordering anything imported, particularly around big seasonal pushes like Halloween and Bonfire Night when bright reds and oranges are in heaviest demand, read the label, ask the supplier a direct question, and don’t treat “available to buy” as a stand-in for “legal to use.” Where to buy UK-legal edible decorations comes down to working with suppliers, such as Magic Sparkles, who’ve built compliance into the product from the start rather than leaving it for you to untangle afterwards.
If you’re not sure about something currently in your kitchen, that’s worth checking this week, before it ends up on a cake you’re selling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are American sprinkles illegal in the UK?
Not automatically, but many popular American brands do use E127 or other dyes that are restricted here, so the sensible default is to check before using anything imported rather than assume it’s fine.
What is E127 and why is it restricted in UK confectionery?
E127 is erythrosine, a bright red synthetic dye. It’s approved in the UK only for cocktail and candied cherries, not for sprinkles, icing, or general confectionery. Regulators restricted it over concerns including a possible link to hyperactivity in children.
Can a bakery be fined for using imported sprinkles?
Yes. Using a restricted colour like E127 outside its approved uses breaches UK food law, and Trading Standards can require you to stop, as happened to a bakery in Leeds in 2021. Not knowing the ingredient was restricted isn’t a legal defence.
What UK-legal alternatives exist to American sprinkles?
UK-manufactured sprinkles and edible glitter made with FSA-approved colours, including ranges built around natural, plant-based colourings. Check the ingredient list and confirm the manufacturer understands UK regulations before switching.
How can I check if imported cake decorations are UK-compliant?
Read the ingredient list for E-numbers, particularly E127, E123, E128, and E110. Ask the supplier directly whether the product meets UK food law, and look for documentation rather than taking their word for it. If you’re not sure, don’t use it.
