Homemade pastries: watch out for decorative powders!

Birthday cakes in princess dresses, mounted pieces topped with sugar paste flowers… cake design (or designer cakes) are on the rise and many young women (especially) are trying their hand at home. An art that requires various accessories and decorative products, including iridescent or metallic powders. But the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses) reminds us in a press release: their use is not without risk. These powders have also caused 3 cases of poisoning by accidental inhalation in 2021 according to poison control centers.

Decorative powders: two mistakes not to make.

ANSES notes in particular two errors frequently made in the use of these metal powders which can mislead the user and those around him:

• If the labeling on the packaging of the incriminated powder generally mentions its “non-toxic” character since it is edible, it can however cause respiratory disorders after accidental inhalation.
• Furthermore, other decorative powders which are not edible (because they are intended to be applied to cake presentation supports) are sold in packaging similar to that of edible powders. The “inedible” character is not always very visible and the resemblance of packaging can be confusing. Consumers take the risk of ingesting inedible metal powders, and of becoming poisoned by heavy metals.

To avoid poisoning, ANSES therefore recommends 3 attitudes:

• Check the edible character or not of the decorative powders before any purchase or use on your pastries;
• Whether they are edible or not, use these very volatile powders in a sufficiently ventilated room;
• Keep them out of reach of children.