Hey Besties! Surely you’ve seen BEAUTIFUL baked goodies glimmering with gold, silver, other metallic finishes, right? I know, me too! They are so fancy and really elevate the look of your treats! However, did you know a lot of the products marketed to bakers are not FDA compliant or even safe to eat?! Yikes! There have even been cases in recent years where people, including small children, have gotten very ill from consuming baked goods that were decorated with unsafe products. Now, before you label me “fun police!” (as my kids would say), there are several products that ARE safe, compliant and can provide the look you want! Today I’m going to share what you need to know about decorating safely with gold and other products while ensuring you are safely feeding your family and customers.
In addition to being a baker, I also have several years of experience working in regulatory affairs. So, I know a thing or two about product safety. I also completely understand the desire to have STUNNING baked goods. However, if you’re running a home cottage business, you are responsible for the ingredients you use and ensuring they are safe for consumers. No one wants a customer to get ill from something you’ve produced, especially a child. So, I hope this information is helpful in making smart decisions about your ingredients.
Decorative Product Labeling
These types of products have been around for years, and new products continue to roll out, which adds to confusion. You’ll see products called luster dust, disco dust, petal dust, sparkle dust and other similar names. These names aren’t as important as the actual ingredients and labeling you need to pay attention to.
A product labeled as Non-Toxic, is not meant for consumption and should not be used directly on baked goods. For example, products such as markers, crayons, cleaners and many others are labeled as non-toxic. And while people have eaten crayons and glue and lived to tell the tale, you shouldn’t put them in your products intended for consumption.
Products labeled as Decorative Use Only, are also not meant for consumption and should not be used directly on baked goods, unless you are prepared to tell your customer to remove the decorated pieces.
Products labeled as Edible, are your first hint that these products should be safe to use, however, they still require further inspection. Per the FDA, products labeled as edible are required to include a list of ingredients on the label. And when you read the ingredients, they should contain familiar ingredients such as sugar, acacia (gum arabic), maltodextrin, and cornstarch. Products may also have color additives that are approved for use. If there are any metals listed, I personally avoid using those products even if they say edible. Remember, you need to include all these ingredients on your labels!
The products you should look for include FDA Registered/Approved/Complaint and Edible, with the list of ingredients on the label. Products with this labeling are stating their products are in compliance with FDA regulations and approved ingredients. If you live or operate in another country, you’ll want to look for labeling such as EU-Approved or Approved by Health Canada, for example.
FDA Compliant, Edible Products
At the time of this writing, here are some brands that have products labeled as FDA compliant, edible and are popular amongst bakers for their decorative effects.
- Bakell Luster Dusts – available HERE
- Roxy & Rich
- The Sugar Art
- Evil Cake Genius – Royal Icing Mixes
These are my favorites and popular with bakers, but there are MANY other products on the market. Please do your due diligence to review your ingredients and labeling. If you’re ever unsure or have questions about the regulatory status of ingredients, contact the Office of Food Additive Safety at [email protected]
Decorating Safely
At the heart of what we do, we love baking beautiful goods that bring a smile and joy to others. It’s imperative that we are responsible bakers and business owners. Think twice or ask yourself, “would I be comfortable with my child or parent eating this ingredient?” In most cases, that will give you the right answer. Thankfully, there are MANY products available to ensure you are decorating safely to create beautiful treats while ensuring those who enjoy your goods keep smiling.
I hope this post all about decorating safely with metallic paints and other products is helpful!
If you found this post helpful, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future posts! Happy Baking, Besties!