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Starburst candies are colorful, sweet, and fruity. The wrappers they come in are just as bright. This article is going to answer the question, are starburst wrappers edible, describe what they are made of, and why people would eat them.
Have you ever had trouble with a Starburst candy wrapper sticking to the candy and then accidentally eating the wrapper? There are even people on social media who claim to eat the wrappers. You might wonder if eating the wrapper could make you sick or if it is edible.
Can You Eat Starburst Wrappers?
Are Starburst Wrappers Edible? Yes, you can eat Starburst wrappers, however they are not meant to be eaten. The wrapper will not harm you but the purpose of the wrapper is to protect the candy and keep it fresh, not to be eaten. Note that the company did not intend for these wrappers to be eaten.
If you accidentally eat one it's ok but you don't want to eat large quantities of the colorful wax papers because the body might not be able to digest them properly.
What Are Starbursts?
Starbursts are a square-shaped or "box" shaped, taffy candy manufactured by the Wrigley Company. They are fruit flavored, chewy candies that come in different varieties like Original, Sour, Tropical, and more. Each Starburst is individually wrapped in a wax paper to help keep it fresh.
What Are Starburst Wrappers Made Of?
Starburst wrappers are made from colorful, non-toxic wax paper. The wrappers almost have a plastic feel to the touch. The wax paper is used to help protect the candy from dust, germs, and also to keep the candy fresh. The candy wrappers are not intended to be eaten. If the company wanted them to be ingested they would flavor them and make them from something digestable.
Paper is the main ingredient of the wrappers. The paper has been coated in wax to help with the stickiness of the candy itself. While paper is edible, it was not designed to be consumed.
There are types of edible paper, like rice paper, that has a flavor and is meant to eat. These wrappers aren't included in the category of papers that can be eaten.
Can The Wrappers Be Digested?
The body was not designed to digest and break down paper wrappers in large quantities. Eating a bunch of wrappers could cause a blockage in the digestive system.
The wax coating on the paper does not digest and will stay intact as it travels through your system. This is one of the main reasons why Starburst wrappers are not meant to be eaten and aren't considered food.
Should you eat the wrappers?
It's not recommend to eat Starburst wrappers. They are not made or marketed to be eaten and should probably avoided.
Also, keep in mind the purpose of the wrapper is to protect the candy from outside germs, dust, dirt, and more. So the wrapper itself could possibly be not clean.
Why Do People Eat Starburst Wrappers?
There are several reasons why someone might eat a candy wrapper. Part of the wrapper might be stuck on the candy and it's just easier to eat the small piece of wrapper. Some people might eat a Starburst wrapper because they think it's funny. Other's might enjoy the texture of the wrapper.
The bottom line is that Starburst did not intend for the wrappers to be consumed. The texture and lack of taste of the wrapper takes away from the sweetness and chewiness of the candy itself.
The majority of people would agree that they enjoy the candy without the wrapper, concluding the best way to eat a Starburst is unwrap it and discard the wrapper.
Conclusion
If you accidentally eat a Starburst with a little wrapper on it, you shouldn't get sick. It won't have a pleasant taste or texture, but it won't require a trip to the emergency room. Remember, the wrappers have no flavor or nutritional value and are not meant to be eaten so next time you grab a pack of Starbursts, make sure to unwrap them.
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