When glitter dust is a bust
Everyone loves a little sparkle. When it comes to food, though, eating that twinkle can sometimes get folks into a wrinkle. In recent years, we’ve heard of multiple incidents of metal toxicity connected to “luster dust.” Also known as food luster, pearl dust, or petal dust, these food decorating products are widely used commercially and at home, adding sparkle to cakes, candy, baked goods, and other prepared foods. Some luster dusts are prepared to be edible, while others are for decorative purposes only and are intended to be removed before consumption.
Two recent examples of metal poisoning from luster dust occurred in Rhode Island and Missouri. In Rhode Island, a birthday party resulted in copper metal poisoning from rose gold luster dust. The label on the luster dust stated it was “nontoxic,” “nonedible,” and “for decoration only.” Laboratory testing found 22.1 mg of copper per gram of frosting on a cake made by a local bakery using commercially available rose gold luster dust (for a total of ~900mg of copper/cake slice). Investigators detected multiple other metals in the dust, as well. Six children ate the cake at the birthday party and developed vomiting and diarrhea 30 minutes to 10 hours after consumption. During the subsequent investigation, the health department found other luster dusts from the same bakery containing aluminum, barium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, and zinc. And, investigators found widespread use of non-edible luster dusts by other Rhode Island bakeries. The Rhode Island Department of Health then notified all bakeries with clarification that edible luster dusts must list the ingredients on their label, and that a product labeled as “nontoxic” isn’t necessarily edible.
One child in the Rhode Island incident had a free copper level of 31 mcg/dL — a normal level is 0–10 mcg/dL. Serum levels correlate poorly with clinical findings, however, as they aren’t associated with the severity of copper toxicity, and there is no standardized “normal” range for children younger than 6. If you encounter a patient with suspected copper toxicity, obtain laboratory studies that evaluate for end organ damage, dehydration, rhabdomyolysis, and methemoglobinemia. Contact the poison center (1–800–222–1222) to guide evaluation and patient management.
The case in Missouri involved primrose petal dust that contained 250,000ppm (25%) lead. The index case was a 12 month old child with a blood lead level of 11 µg/dl. Investigators surveyed the child’s home with an X-ray fluorescence analyzer and identified luster dust as the culprit — the child’s homemade birthday cake had petal dust on the decorative flowers. Similar to the Rhode Island case, the primrose petal dust label stated it was “nontoxic.” The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issued warnings to consumers to not use the dust and to discard products listing the dust as an ingredient. They additionally advised pregnant women and children who might have consumed the dust to consult their healthcare provider on having their blood lead level tested.
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, additives in food are required to meet certain safety and labeling guidelines. To be labelled as “nontoxic,” a color additive must go through a premarket approval process that includes an assessment of toxicity. This assessment utilizes safety testing data — insufficient data does not mean the additive is “nontoxic.” And, a “nontoxic” label does not necessarily mean the product is safe for consumption. Edible luster dusts are required to list their ingredients, which commonly include “sugar, acacia (gum arabic), maltodextrin, cornstarch, and color additives specifically approved for food use, including mica-based pearlescent pigments and FD&C colors such as FD&C Blue №1” (To Eat or Not to Eat: Decorative Products on Food Can Be Unsafe). If a label only says “nontoxic” and does not contain an ingredient list, consumers should not use the product directly on food.
Questions about metal toxicity? Contact the Washington Poison Center at 1–800–222–1222.
Learn more:
