PVC/Vinyl: The Poison Plastic - Page 2

I just watched a tv show, it was food networks "challenge", they were making cartoon cakes.
Atleast 2 of the competitors were using PVC pipes in their cakes, to make them stand up.
Just a thought.

As soon as there is a catch cry about something being poisonous in cake decorating, my initial reaction is to go and find out as much information as I can about so I can make an informed decision about it.

After doing some extensive reading, the bottom line is the longer something is exposed to the relevent types of plastics (Polycarbonate and PVC that is flexible), the more BPAs and phthalates are absorbed by the food/drink. Not even canned goods are safe from this as the cans are lined with an epoxy resin that contains phthalates!

But the key words are LONG EXPOSURE.

Yes fondant may pick up a miniscule amount of these chemicals from a non 'food grade' vinyl mat, but in the overall exposure to BPAs and phthalates it isn't significant, when compared to exposure through other sources, especially when you start looking at items that have been canned or heated in containers that use the relevant plastics.

So yes the fondant may have been rolled out on a vinyl mat, but when you add all the canned drinks, the meat or vegetables and fruit that are wrapped in plastic, cheese wiz, canned whipped cream etc etc that is probably going to be served at the party, the fondant will be the one with the least significant amounts of BPAs and pthalates.

This site is the Australian consumer watchdog - CHOICE - discussion and investigation into food safe plastics. It was done in January 2010 so may not be up to date with current research.
http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/food-and-health/food-and-drink/safety/plastic-food-containers.aspx

great post. thanks so much

Thank You BlakesCakes!!!! Just Thank you!.

two words for you....THE MAT that's for rolling out your fondant and it's amazing! http://sweetwise.com/mat-featured-product/the-mat.html

Well, now, you might not want to thank me when I'm finished this post because..............the original post is 3 YEARS OLD. Not sure who, how, where, or why it was resurrected, but here goes.....

Since I responded to the original post in 2008, SweetWise had developed and manufactured a FOOD GRADE VINYL MAT--"The Mat". Now that I have a food grade alternative, I use The Mat to roll my fondant. No more fabric store vinyl--it can be manufactured using all types of waste materials. I can't see the value in using ANY inferior product.

I'm a firm believer in evolving and evaluating. Now that I know better, I do better.

Rae

I too use The Mat and also have the blue silicone mats (I prefer The Mat). Your original posts are still relevant to how everything can be harmful. We all evolve with the times even when we don't try . I have a family member that believes and sends "Alarmist" information without knowledge behind it so this was all refreshing to read. However, It still saddens me to learn that we shouldn't be eating cake 3 times a day. I'll have to work on that- LOL

Jeanne

I too thought the matt was the greatest thing, even though I make very few cakes. It didn't take long before it developed stretch marks (ripples?) that showed on my fondant. It isn't the most money I ever wasted but with shipping as high as it is now it was almost $30 and I can't use it! Other people have had the same issue. The company that sells the matt overed me $5 off a new one. I would expect a better discount considering it is a product flaw that they said a few have had. I watched all the films explaining the best ways to use it before I used it and never, never folded it. I am officially dissapointed with the Matt. SInce the fondant is only in contact with vinyl for such a short time I am just going to buy the cheaper stuff. It actually may not be that bad anyway. They have never explained how it is manufactored differently to make it food safe. A lot of vinyl and plastic products are considered food safe. It costs money to have a product verified food safe. Since most vinyl sold in fabric stores isn't expected to come in contact with food the money is not spent to verify it food safe or not. Wouldn't it be funny if it was really the same stuff and they just spent the money to have it verified! I would think it would be not as safe if it were heated which would allow whatever to escape. Just a thought.

I'm so glad I read your update, BlakesCakes. I was getting very confused, knowing that you usually argue on the other side of this particular issue!

I never look at the dates.

i am curious as to how the "ripples" you speak of happened on your mat and how long you had it!? I have had mine for over a year now and nothing has happened to my mat. i keep it rolled up in the original case it came. if there is a defective one, i would think they would just send you a new one since i have heard that others were dissatisfied with how theirs arrived in a poor condition from shipping and they sent them a new one free of charge. just curious that's all

I have every faith that the people at SweetWise actually researched & developed a food safe product and I'm not fond of trying to denigrate that process, the product, or the producers just because one's results haven't been "perfect".....................

I don't roll between 2 mats. never have, prefer not to. I roll on one "Mat". It remains stuck to my counter top (with water) at all times. I cover it with parchment or a dish towel when not in use. I'm very, very careful not to put anything very warm, and certainly not hot, on it.

The current piece has been on the counter for about 18 months. Time to put down a new piece, as I, unfortunately, cut thru the current piece. I'll cut it into some smaller pieces and use it whenever. It has no ripples in it.

Now, maybe you got a bad piece. I suppose that happens. Ripples in vinyl are usually the result of heat being applied or it having been stretched, especially while warm (from hot water, etc.).

Rae

I used it about 5 or 6 times. I am just a hobby baker and I don't make a lot of cakes. I watched the youtube videos on how to use it and never folded it. Always put it back in the tube it came in. They said they had heard from 5 or 6 people with the same problems. I have heard of a few more people with the same issue but since it wasn't an expensive item they did not contact the company. I didn't expect a free replacement but $5 off was not enough to make be want to take another chance on it. I think I (and the others) just may have gotten a "bad piece". I was very surprised they did didn't stand behind the product better. I really loved it at first so I am very disapointed it did not hold up better.

to BlakesCakes
I have never cleaned the product with any thing but a papertowel. Certainly never used hot water. I would lay it out flat and then roll it up and put it back in the tube. I do agree I ( and a few others) just recieved a "bad section". I think with all that is manufactured it would not be unusual. I offered to mail back my defective pieces.