has any one used rubber stamp to put pictures on a cake with food coloring? Please let me know and would like to see picks if so. Thanks.

Rubber stamps bought in a craft store are not food-safe. They leach chemicals which are used in the manufacture of them, into the food product. If you get caught using them, you can possibly end up paying a hefty fine by the FDA.

The only food-safe rubber stamps on the market are the ones sold by

www.sweetstampen.com

Holly, the owner, can also give you advice on how to use them on various food products.

Theresa

Just popping in to ask a question..i"m assuming the stamps made by wilton for cookies are ok too, aren't they? I have some i bought a few years ago, there is a set for sports balls, and a frog stamp etc..

I didn't even think about them, because they've been off the market here for so long.

Yes, Wilton stamps are food-safe, according to the package.

Theresa

I did not know that. Thank you. I am glad I did not buy any yet. I guess thats what we are all here for.. to help each other.

You're welcome.

Check Holly's website posted above, and see if there is anything on there that you can use for your experiments.

There's a gorgeous rose on a stem which I used to do a demo in candy stamping at the PA ICEs two years ago.

Theresa

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Rubber stamps bought in a craft store are not food-safe


I'm just curious. I have not heard this before. Where did you learn this?

Maureen

Laur'el Silverberg did an episode on Carol Duvall (HTGV), using rubber stamps to decorate cookies. She was contacted by the FDA regarding the safety of the stamps. She did not know at the time, but did the research and got the answer - no, they were not.

She developed the line of food-safe rubber stamps sold at Sweet Stampen. Holly Dare now owns the company, and has added many more products to her line.

I have also written to rubber stamp companies and clay mold companies regarding their materials, and they all reply the same way. They are not made for use with food, and therefore are not considered food-safe compliant.

Theresa

Laur'el Silverberg did an episode on Carol Duvall (HTGV), using rubber stamps to decorate cookies.

You know, I think I saw that episode. It was YEARS ago.

Thank you for your response.

Maureen

I totally understand where you all are coming from... but just because something is not regulated for use in food does not necessarily mean that it will leach toxic chemicals. Just that since food is not its main purpose, the producing company is choosing not to spend the time and money getting it approved. Does anyone know if they actually do something bad, or if it is just unregulated? Just seems like something so simple and in contact for so little time couldn't do much. There are a lot of things we all use that fall into this category.

According to the information Laur'el gave me, when the stamps were tested, they leached chemicals that are used in the manufacture of the stamps, and therefore were determined to be non-compliant. She did not specifically tell me if they were the chemicals used in the "ingredients" of the stamp, or if they were the chemicals used in the etch process. She was also told that there are severe penalties if she continues to knowingly use them.

I know, from buying stamp-making kits, that the chemicals used in the etch process are carcinogens, and are absorbed into the rubber.

Hey, I'm disappointed about it. I would love to work with the stamps I find in the craft stores. I have all three of the big ones on the East Coast here - Michael's, AC Moore, and Joann, plus what they sell at Wal-Mart and the paper stores. I'm not willing to risk it.

Theresa

According to the information Laur'el gave me, when the stamps were tested, they leached chemicals that are used in the manufacture of the stamps, and therefore were determined to be non-compliant. She did not specifically tell me if they were the chemicals used in the "ingredients" of the stamp, or if they were the chemicals used in the etch process. She was also told that there are severe penalties if she continues to knowingly use them.

I know, from buying stamp-making kits, that the chemicals used in the etch process are carcinogens, and are absorbed into the rubber.

Hey, I'm disappointed about it. I would love to work with the stamps I find in the craft stores. I have all three of the big ones on the East Coast here - Michael's, AC Moore, and Joann, plus what they sell at Wal-Mart and the paper stores. I'm not willing to risk it.

Theresa

Just be careful if you go to SweetStampens Website. I had some issues way back when with Holly and won't buy from that website again.

See, now I've bought merchandise from her a few times, and have never had a problem. I guess it's like that other place, some get lucky, some don't.

Theresa

A little off topic, but.... When using stamps, do you use regular food coloring or somehting else??

Thanks
Melia

I have used regular stamps from a craft store to decorate my fondant covered board. I don't see any harm in that since no one is going to be eating it, and the cake doesn't touch it!

Hi Gang! I know when I start seeing bunches of hits, we're being talked about!

I'm so glad Theresa is in here and keeping ya'll food safe.

Donna, I do remember "having issues" with you as well. I simply am not willing to sell products to anyone not being food safe. It states that right on my website. Customers who are willing to risk getting someone sick tend to sue us and it's best for us that they shop elsewhere.

But for the rest of you, if you're willing to learn about the safe way to craft with your food, I promise, I don't bite! . I do my best to provide my customers with quick service and tons of information. Educating people is the hardest part of my job. It's when a cake dec. wants to take a shortcut that isn't food safe - well, I'm just not willing to risk that.

One of my teachers works in an ER...she knows all about food poisoning. Her students NEVER question food safety!

Re: the Wilton product: in general those sponge stamps are not really ok on food (have you ever smelled them?) BUT Wilton had theirs made elsewhere and they are food safe...however they don't provide the detail of our stamps.


Melia - Our food color is an airbrush black that has been custom formulated for us for use with stamps. We found that black color has too much sugar to really work in a stamp pad so Americolor created the Stamp Pad colors just for us.

(There are 10 - but the other 9 are used in professional bakeries and custom ordered in a configuration to fit their needs. That's where the food safety thing really gets me. International bakeries know not to mess around with food safety but trying to get that point across to a home baker...some days, it's exhausting.)

Price - decorating your board and your cake are two different things. I use non food safe stamps to decorate things like that all the time. Just make sure none of the ink gets into the icing.

Anyway, if ya'll have any questions, I answer emails all the time!

And Theresa, thanks for all your details on everything! You keep it real! And where ya been lately???

I would like to say that I have been contacted by Holly re: our issues at Sweet Stampen. She has been most understanding and I think our issues have been remedied.
Thanks Holly

wow I am glad that I saw this thread. I was about to experiment with some rubber stamps that I purchased a while ago and that I have never used. Thanks for the info on the website and for the non fda stamps.

Donna, Thanks for posting that! And again, I'm deeply sorry for the misunderstanding.

partygirl, Thank YOU for being food safe!

Think of how many other things we use that are not "food safe" to decorate cakes. I'm not worried about a clean rubber stamp.

Heck, last night on Ace of Cakes I saw them using carpet tape to make straight lines! Wooden dowels go directly into the cake. Paint brushes used to paint with food coloring, blush brushes and sponge brushes for adding luster dust, PVC pipe for supporting crazy carved cakes... And if Duff is using the Preval sprayer so will I (as soon as I can find one).

I was thinking the same thing macsmom. So where does is the dividing line. Should we stop using wooden dowel rods which has been in use for a long time. Maybe somebody should invent a line in which we could use fda safe products such as rulers, brushes etc. I know that there are a couple of different terminologies that the fda uses. But who knows I am starting to ramble so I will end this LOL

Another thing you can use besides food coloring is food safe markers. They come in a varitey of colors and you can use multiple colors on each stamp. It works great!!!

Theresa, and Holly, thanks for the great info.

Mike

Wow, I am so glad I found out about the stamps not being food safe!!! I was going to buy some to practice with! Thanks ladies!! I will be ordering some from sweetstampen soon to use in our Bakery!!!!

Jessica

I was told that it is the felt pad between the rubber stamp and the wooden block that is not food safe. If you mount the rubber part on a clear acrylic block, that is suppose to be ok. How accurate is this info?
I also agree with the gal who mentioned how many other things we use are technically not "food safe". Using a little common sense goes a long way!!

I have been wondering about using rubber stamps to emboss fondant for example...wouldn't it work to use plastic wrap on top of the fondant--to place a barrier between the fondant and the rubber stamp? Then it could be colored with food safe markers of air brush or whatever???

gabby---that does work well and it also keeps the piece from sticking to the fondant without dusting it with cornstarch, etc. I have done that a lot when I have multiple pieces to emboss. It also eliminates the need to wash the piece in between when you get a build up on it.

What about using the clear stamps, not the rubber ones I was planning on buying some in different types of alphabet to emboss my cakes and cookies here is a blog that shows what I am talking about.

http://www.mysweetandsaucy.com/tag/fondant-stamps/

I think this would work great for your wedding cookies!!

Thanks for the info on rubber stamps. I will stay away from them. What about the clear stamps? I've read these were safe. Are they made from acrylic?
Hammy