For Those Who Feed Others Disco Dust - Page 9  

Well?!? There shouldn't be anyone that has a problem with it if they're dousing their cakes with it, cause the customer is gonna get a big ole bite of it too! 

Ok I have been lurking here on this site for a while. I have never posted but I just had to say that this comment made me spray soda out of my nose and sent my kids running into the room to find out why I was doubled over with hysterical giggling fits.

My 13 year old son seriously appreciated this comment and we will never look at glitter the same way again.

I agree, that's funny- I'm going to be using this as an explanation for glitter in the future!

Every teenaged boy needs a full understanding of glitter so that they can avoid it or embrace it as they wish. My husband almost drove off the road once when he noticed a piece of glitter on his arm and tried to get it off of him. I guess he's allergic to unicorn farts.

Great to see some levity.  Sometimes the best lessons are learnt and remembered when dealt with humour, rather than being preached at.
 

I have to thank you for this posting, CakePro.  I had used Wilton dusts, but just a few months ago ordered a product (Super Pearl Dust by CK) from Sweet Wise. The product description online only states:  "Produces a shimmery luster for beautiful cakes. Non-Toxic. Contains: Titanium Dioxide & Mica. Not water soluble. Mix with vodka or grain alcohol to paint, or brush on dry for a beautiful, all over sheen. Net Weight: 2 grams"  I admit to not reading this  but notice - NO mention of not being edible, though the ingredients are not typically known to most of us - bit of the red flag if you did notice.  The video used on this supply company site,  demonstrating this product, also makes no mention of the NOT EDIBLE status.   But the CK brand label states "non-toxic" and "not to be consumed" in smaller text below the product name.  Had I seen this before making my purchase, I would have NEVER ordered it.  

 

I asked for a refund from Sweet Wise, but the warehouse manager opted instead to furnish me with his thoughts on the product, suggesting the info is on their page (it's buried if it is) and minimizing the product's harm.  I know the difference between non-toxic and not edible so "non-toxic" doesn't make me feel a bit better.  I mentioned the health department's warning but he seemed unimpressed.  BTW - any chance you can copy/paste the warning rather than attach as a PDF?  Sorry, but what I can see is better than that which I can't (sort of like this product's warning - )  

 

In my case, the product was used on a large candy topper that found its way on to a cake for my husband.  It was not consumed.  I vaguely recall putting a touch of it on another fondant piece but it was used only sparingly.  Live and learn, emphasis on LIVE.  

 

I will certainly share this info with others.  Again, thank you for informing all of us. Keep up the helpful work.  While it may not kill us, I know I'd never offer up craft glitter, in any amount, to my grandchildren on a cake or cookie.  Too many other options!

Titanium dioxide is a white pigment that's almost totally inert, and (at least the last time I looked) approved for food use.

 

Mica is a family of silicate minerals that cleave into thin sheets, commonly used in sheet form as an electrical insulator, and in granular form as a glitter, and as a filler material. While it's also largely inert, simply being inert doesn't mean a substance isn't biologically harmful: consider asbestos, whose carcinogenicity comes, from what I've heard, not from a chemical property, but from its tendency to break down into sharp microscopic fibers that mechanically damage DNA. Tiny particles of mica might also have harmful physical properties.

I am SOOOOOO glad that I read this! I have used it on gum paste accent pieces for cakes before. I'm absolutely furious that this is inedible. I had no idea!!! I purchased them from my local chocolate shop. The woman told me it was edible glitter made from sugar.

I also purchased little jars of glitter called Sunflower Sugar Art and it says made in the USA. Any idea if these are edible?

If you're ever not sure, just put whatever it is in water and see if it dissolves. Sugar will, plastic won't.

Hmm. Flakes of sheet gelatin might also fall into the "will dissolve" category (or at least, the "will become waterlogged" category; flakes of mica, or metal filings, or similar things would definitely fall into the "will not dissolve" category.

 

And presumably, anything hazardous that falls into the "will dissolve" category would not rate a "non toxic" label.

REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE FDA: One thing you need to realize is that the "ingredients" in Disco Dust and Super Pearl dust are quite different, and should be discussed as different products. The Super Pearl Dust that you ordered contains 2 things: Titanium Dioxide and Mica, as well as some food safe filler starches. Both of these main ingredients are listed as SAFE ACCORDING TO THE FDA, the former on page 152 under section 175.105, and the latter on page 200 under section 176.170. A couple of things: there is a big difference between a finished product having FDA approval and a product having FDA Certification. I know because we did it for THE MAT. I challenge you all to go look at your cake ingredients and see if they are FDA approved. They ARE NOT because it takes years of testing and a great deal of expense to do so. If the FDA had to go through the approval process for every item on the shelf, it would implode. A certification comes from the manufacturer, certifying that the product contains (then lists and cross references) FDA approved ingredients and materials, which is the case in the Super Pearl dust you ordered. Let me reiterate that very ingredient in there is safe according to the FDA Code of Federal Regulations. If we threw away all the food in our cabinets that isn't FDA approved, we'd all starve tonight. I'll attach the code of Federal Regulations for you to double check so you know the ingredients in the luster dust are safe. One other thing you should note: the FDA and a County Health Department have VASTLY different assignments, and Mr. Entringer's position on Disco Dust is a general answer in regards to Disco Dust, not luster dust. In addition to that, his job is NOT to approve or disapprove ingredients as far as what the government approves the population to consume. His job, assuming he is involved with food inspection, is to enforce public health laws and regulations. Again, just taking a position on the luster dust here, not the Disco Dust. Very different products. I hope this eases some tension, and perhaps a little of the hard feelings between you all. I know it can be frustrating- figuring out the FDA is almost as confusing as figuring our new tax codes. 

 

 

Title 21 CFR.pdf 2,203k .pdf file

I have no fear of luster dust, but I still don't want to eat plastic.

Good to know. Thanks for the link!

Sunflower Sugar Art is a company.  They sell dusts and glitters that are branded and re-labeled, but most likely all come from the same manufacturer.

 

Thank you Sweetwise for clarifying the role of the FDA and the HD.  

 

I want to mention that there are 2 basic types of dust - the dusts that all come from the same manufacturer that companies re-brand and re-sell, and Crystal Colors.  Crystal Colors are the only FDA approved dusts on the market (or at least they were, there might be more but I think they are it).  If you are really concerned about this and want to use FDA approved dusts, order Crystal Colors.  http://www.sugarpaste.com/catalog/catalog.htm

 

Glitter and disco dust is still another issue - does anyone have a link to a disco dust that is FDA approved for use on food?  That way not only are we informing other decorators about DD, but we are letting them know where they can buy DD that is approved. 

 

*edited to fix typos.  I am way tired.

Edited by FromScratchSF - 1/9/13 at 1:45pm

i mean i just came back from the cake deco store

 

i thought they had the edible stuff--was gonna do an experiment

will have to order online instead

 

he points me right to the dd - i said no i mean the edible stuff

 

he says oh that's edible I used it on bladeebla cake

 

vahhhsst assortment of beautiful glittery dd shimmering on the shelf

(coming to a theater  cake colonoscopy near you :)

 

yum yum eat 'em up