Please, no FLAMES!! I'm not trying to stir up trouble, just impart important information. I know that these sprayers have created quite an interest, so I e-mailed the company that makes them for additional info and I think it's important to share the company response.

First off, I use luster dust, push molds, and cross-use other products, so I'm not a "prude" or purist when it comes to cake decorating--but, IT HAS TO BE NON-TOXIC-and the propellents in Preval are definitely NOT non-toxic. Obviously this isn't a concern for dummy/display cakes, but for something that will be consumed......

I wrote this to Preval:

Hello.
I have seen several recommendations for using the Preval Sprayer to apply decorative (edible) dusts to cakes, etc.

Could you please take a moment to comment on this? Also, please specify the type of propellant used in the sprayer and whether that propellant is considered "food safe".

Thank you very much for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Rae Blakescakes

They responded:

Hi,
We do not have approval for use with foods, pharmaceuticals, or personal products. I am attaching a MSDS sheet for your review.

Thank you for your interest!

Anthony J. Moretti

From the MSDS sheet:
PREVAL SPRAY GUN POWER UNIT
Chemical Name: propane / isobutane / dimethyl ether
Chemical Family: hydrocarbon/ether mixture
DANGER! EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. Keep away from heat, spark, open flame and other sources of ignition. Vapors from liquefied gas will be easily ignited.
Will form explosive mixtures in air. Vapors may travel to a distant source of ignition and flash back. Containers may explode when heated. Prolonged storage
and exposure to air may form explosive peroxides. Vapors may cause dizziness, mental confusion and asphyxiation without warning. May be irritating at high
concentrations. Direct contact of the liquefied product with the skin or eyes may cause frostbite leading to permanent skin and eye damage.

Now, I could post a lot more from the sheet facts, but this covers a lot of the issues I have with it. This sprayer is not merely "compressed air". Indeed, most of the propellents will be released into the air when using this, BUT you are passing dusts THROUGH the propellent when spraying this, so it stands to reason that the dust will pick up some of the propellent components. I would think that the closer you spray to the item, the bigger the issue. The product is considered a workplace and environmental hazard in several states.

I hope this information is helpful for anyone who had questions, as I did.
Rae

Thanks for the heads up on this. Is is important to know! If I was having a cake made-I'd want to know that it was made safely. We'd have no idea if we didn't ask! I hope they market this as something for dummy cakes...:duh

Thank you so much for the info. I did order one, luckily it was only $5, but had it not been for you researching it a step further I wouldn't have known. Thanks so much!

Blakescakes,

Thank you for doing the research into this. I had been thinking about using the Preval as a substitute for an airbrush, but now, I definitely will not!!

I was wondering about this...great job!

hmmm, well i haven't got mine yet & i've been thinking alot lately of practing on some dummy cake, so all would not be lost for me.

i do wonder how it is that duff goldman has been seen using one on his television show...i wonder if the cake he was using it on was a dummy or not (i didn't see this, just heard, so i don't even know how he used it)

thanks

Thanks for the info!!! I had ordered one off ebay too.

Thank you very much for the information and taking the time to do some research and forwarding the informatiion to us.

Manufacturers are always out to cover their "you know what". In a land of lawsuits, it is understandable why they would. But this information will not stop me from using the product if I need to. I really have not use this product since I am not a fan of spray painting or air brushing, but I would not hesitate to in the future. The fact that it has been used by Professional Pastry Chefs , and these Professional Pastry Chefs are still in business and not in jail, then I would personally not worry or be skeptical about using it. Just my personal thoughts and input.

I just emailed Duff; let's hope we get an answer today!!!

I was commenting on another thread about this same topic. I use a airbrush with can air-It contains butane which from what I have read is synthetically made from petroleum.
I use both of them and I guess it is what you are comfortable doing. I do use the preval on many show cakes and my airbrush on regular cakes.
Everyone will have there own oipinion about this topic!
Thanks for the info Rae!

I posted this response to another Preval post in the General Forum:

"I believe that if the dust being applied to the cake passes through a product (canned air, compressed air, Preval propellant mixture) that contains petroleum derivatives or extracts (propane, butane, isobutane, etc.), then there is an unacceptable risk of contaminating the dust (and therefore the cake) with petroleum residues. I'm not comfortable with that, for many reasons not the least of which is liability for an allergic response. None of these products is approved for direct application to food and I don't think they qualify as non-toxic (but I haven't researched this or read a can label to see).

The only really non-toxic, completely safe way to aerosolize dusts is with an air compressor and a dedicated airbrush and hose. "

Rae

I wish I had a can of Wilton cake color spray or Pam so I could read what the propellants are in their arerosolized cans. Wouldn't they transfer to cakes or cooking as well? If so, how are they able to get food safe permits for these products?

I just looked at a can of Wilton spray color - those too have propane and isobutane, does that make them inedible too?

Edited to say: so does my non-stick baking spray - that contains propane and butane!

Most aerosols contain these products, it's how they get out of the can - short of using a pump spray, I don't see how you can avoid it!

Is the ether a problem?? I just used it on an order for tomorrow!!! Man I don't want to do it over.

Hi, Shirley.
I checked several cans: Pam says propellant (no names), same with Betty Crocker Decorating Spray. Wilton says: isobutane and propane.


There are "food safe" versions of some mixtures, "food safe" volumes of some, and some packaging keeps the propellant away from the content being sprayed (as I understand it there is a pressure build up that sends the contents out). At issue here is what residues are left behind after spraying, so the final intended use of the product is very important.

Obviously, the Research & Development departments of FOOD companies have tried and true methods of delivering food products in approved manners. The Precision Valve Company that manufactures Preval makes no such claims.

Rae

I use Baker's Joy brand baking spray in all of my cake pans. It contains isobutane and propane. It even has a warning on the can "Do not spray near a flame." THIS IS A FOOD PRODUCT and is produced as one. Taking this into consideration, if Baker's Joy, Pam, Wilton color spray and other food products are safe to use with the same ingredients, then common sense tells me that the Preval sprayer should also be safe.

Well, since Preval and I didn't get along well anyway I guess I will leave it in the drawer.

Well, since it's just a quick spray to 'enhance' a cake..I'm not going to worry about the DOOM AND GLOOM

and if someone was going to drop dead from this..it would be us pastry chefs that inhale it all day long!

It says basically the same thing on the can of my badger info also. I have seen many people use the badger air also.

I think it goes to say that inhaling anything can be harmful. I just picked up three products in my bathroom that read do not inhale. Could burn eyes.

I guess i would be more worried with inhaling second hand smoke---but that is another thread!

And yes the Wilton sprays that are Fda approved do contain isobutane and propane.

oh yeah..and the sky is falling...lol