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Can You Eat Starburst Wrappers? (Read This First!)

Wrappers are usually made from materials that are not naturally friendly. But some candies have mixed paper wrappers which is edible and biodegradable. And starburst is a popular candy among children, adults, and nature lovers for this particular reason.

Can you eat starburst wrappers?

The wrappers of the starburst candy are a bit different than any other candy. The wrappers of the candy are made of wax. Which means they are non-toxic and technically edible. But it is highly advised against. There is no need to eat the wrapper. But you can eat the wrapper because it isn’t toxic.

Wrappers are not supposed to be eaten. Mostly because the wrappers are very harmful to your stomach. The material of the wrapper contains many toxic ingredients. But the wrappers of the starburst candy do not have any toxic ingredients.

It is safe to eat, but eating the wrapper is not a  wise choice.

Is it ok or bad to eat starburst wrappers?

Starburst wrappers are edible because the paper is wax paper. However, it is not okay to eat it. The wrappers are not exactly digestible. The colored wax papers are in fact non-toxic. And these tiny wrappers are not likely to harm you or cause any major problems.

Yet, they are not good enough to be eaten.

Eating wrappers is never a good idea. No matter the type of paper being used to make the wrapper. It will not be easy to digest and there might be some slight inflammation inside the stomach. So even if the wrapper of the starburst candy is edible, it is not okay to eat it.

What are starburst wrappers made of? 

The wrappers of the starburst candy are made of wax paper. The wax paper is biodegradable and compostable. It is an environment-friendly wrapper. This is why some people think it is okay to eat the wrappers. But it is not.

Just because the wrapper is made of edible paper does not mean it can be eaten.

Most of the wrappers of candies are made of aluminum or foil paper. But the wrapper of the starburst candy is different. It is more environmentally friendly. The wrappers are made with wax paper, which is more nature friendly. Wax papers are compostable and edible.

But it is best to throw them away instead of eating them.      

Is it safe to eat starburst wrappers? 

Eating candy wrappers is not safe at all, no matter the type of paper. Some people feel that the wrappers of the starburst candy are okay to eat because they are technically edible. Well, it is not safe to have those wrappers either.

The wrappers of the starburst candy are made with wax paper. The environment-friendly wrappers may be non-toxic but they are not safe to eat.

Easting the wrapper of the starburst candy can cause an upset stomach. The digestion might not be normal. Even though the colorful wax paper wrapper is edible, it should not be eaten. It is not safe. Any wrapper as a matter of fact is not safe.

But because of the wax paper, some people consider the possibilities. Which is not okay. Though technically edible, it is not safe to eat the wrappers of the starburst candy.

Are starburst wrappers compostable? 

The wrappers of the starburst candy are very much on the side of nature. The wrappers are made with wax paper. Wax paper is an environmentally positive product. The paper is biodegradable and is compostable.

On top of that, the making of the paper only uses around one-third of the energy compared to the other wrappers.

Most of the wrappers are made of aluminum which is not biodegradable. This means the wrappers do not dissolve in the earth, no matter the time. But the wax paper degrades in the soil and earth within a year or so.

This is why the wrappers of the starburst candy are compostable. 

Are starburst wrappers biodegradable? 

Wax papers are biodegradable and are capable of being dissolved by bacteria in the soil. Starburst candy uses wax paper as its wrapper. So the wrapper is biodegradable.

Most candies do not have such nature-friendly ingredients as their wrapping material. But the starburst candy is very much conscious in this sector.

Biodegradable products are easily consumed and dissolved by bacteria or other living organisms on the earth. The products are nature friendly and prevent pollution. Wrappers and papers are not usually biodegradable.

But the wrappers of the starburst candy are made of wax paper. Wax paper dissolves in the soil after a few whiles. So the wrapper is biodegradable.

What happens if you eat starburst wrappers?

The wrappers of the starburst candy are made of wax papers, which are technically edible. Though it is advised to not eat it, no matter its edibility. Because the paper is likely to cause inflammation in your stomach.

It will be hard to digest and there might be some internal complications.

The wax paper wrapper being normally digested is highly unlikely. Our stomach is not made to digest paper, no matter the kind. So it is not wise to eat the wrappers of the starburst candy.

Are starburst wrappers recyclable?

The wrappers of the starburst candy are biodegradable and compostable, but they are not recyclable. The wrapper is made with wax paper which is a mixed paper. It is non-recyclable. The paper dissolves in the soil with the help of bacteria and other living organisms.

But you can’t recycle the wrapping paper.

These mixed paper wrappers are not accepted in the single-flow recycle line. The wrappers are considered contaminated. As a result, the wrappers can’t be processed at the recycling facility. 

It is best not to put the candy wrappers up for recycling as they can’t be processed or recycled. 

What to do with starburst wrappers? 

The wrappers of the starburst candy are biodegradable but not recyclable. Which means it is of no use to put them up for recycling. You can throw them out but there are other things you can do with the wrappers.

Mostly crafty and nifty things but it are better than just throwing them away-

Chain out of the wrappers:

You can make chains out of the wrappers. It is perhaps the most common craft made from wrappers. It is very easy to make and is most definitely fun. And with those chains, you can just adjust the size and make bracelets out of them.

Bookmarks:

Bookmarks are also very common when it comes to reusing the wrappers. You can just fold the wrappers or you can simply glue multiple wrappers and make a bookmark.

Origami:

Origami is easy when it comes to folding the wrappers. The easiest origami fold is the star. It is very easy to make a star from the wrapper of the starburst candy. And with the candy, you can make different crafts like bracelets and wall hangers.

Since it is no use to try and recycle the wrapper, it is best to use it in a crafty way. There are many things you make just by folding the wrapper.

How long does it take for a candy wrapper to degrade? 

The wrappers of any food item can take from 10 to around 20 years to entirely degrade. This is true for most of the wrappers of food items. Candy wrappers are smaller in size but they still take the same amount of time to degrade.

The decomposition process of any wrapper takes the same amount of time.

This is why it is always advised to throw the wrappers in a bin so they can be recycled properly. Even candy wrappers can take up to 20 years to decompose entirely.

No matter the size, the material and the ingredient of the candy wrappers make takes a very long time to decompose.

What happens if my dog eats a candy wrapper? 

Your dog eating the wrapper of candy is not really new news is it? This is common for every dog owner. But that never stops the worry. The aftermath of this depends on the size of the wrapper.

If it is a small wrapper there is a good chance that the wrapper will be passed on as part of the digestion process.

The problem can be serious if the wrapper is bigger in size. The large-sized wrapper can cause a blockage in the digestion system. This could create an obstruction, leading your dog to vomit persistently. If this happens, it is best to consult with a doctor.

Final thoughts:

When it comes to the edibility of the wrappers of the starburst candy, it is okay. The wrappers are made of wax paper, which is non-toxic. So technically the wrappers are edible. Still, it is not okay or safe to eat the wrappers. It can cause an upset stomach. Best to avoid eating the wrapper.