Think of how many other things we use that are not "food safe" to decorate cakes. I'm not worried about a clean rubber stamp.
Heck, last night on Ace of Cakes I saw them using carpet tape to make straight lines! Wooden dowels go directly into the cake. Paint brushes used to paint with food coloring, blush brushes and sponge brushes for adding luster dust, PVC pipe for supporting crazy carved cakes... And if Duff is using the Preval sprayer so will I (as soon as I can find one).
There is a difference between food-safe and designed for food. Wooden dowels are ok (better if they don't come from the hardware store where who knows what they come in contact with.) Paint brushes, makeup brushes and stuff like that are generally not made with toxic chemicals--thus would be considered "food-safe" even though they are not designed for food. PVC pipe, provided it is the kind that is designed for drinking water systems would be food-safe--at least I hope so as we drink the water out of it..... 
(I'm not sure about some of the other stuff they use in Ace of Cakes)
The rubber stamps, as well as that latex rubber mold making stuff you get at Michaels actually contain toxic elements which leach into the food they come in contact with. It's not worth the risk for me....
The rubber stamps, as well as that latex rubber mold making stuff you get at Michaels actually contain toxic elements which leach into the food they come in contact with. It's not worth the risk for me....[/quote].
Which latex mold making stuff you get at Michaels? This does not include Amazing Mold Putty does it? It claims to be food grade on the product and the website. Just made some molds from the stuff, just want to be cautious about using it. I have only put the fondant molds on cake dummies. TIA
Hammy
No, the stuff I'm referring to is, I think, called Mold Builder. It is a liquid latex, but it has ammonia in it. (I've seen posts on here where people have been using it--it does not claim to be food safe, and has warning labels on the container.) It is different stuff than the mold putty--which as far as I know is food safe. HTH
Titia
Latex is generally avoided in food prep due to the severe latex allergies in the general public. At least in my neck of the woods.
How many rubber erasers do kids chew on? I, for one, am not quite worried about it. Of course I wouldn't use inedible inks.
Before I worry I need to know the specifics, like how long was the material in contact with what (sugar, oil, vinegar, etc.) before it started to leach. Did they actually take a rubber stamp and stamp some dough, fondant quickly then test that? Or did they put a piece in a container and let it sit for 3 weeks and then test it? Lots of things we come in contact with wouldn't be good in large doses. Nope not worried.
Latex is generally avoided in food prep due to the severe latex allergies in the general public. At least in my neck of the woods.
I was just about to say the same thing! Latex is a horrible allergy!! It is most serious! My husband works in the medical field and Latex is a allergy you don't wanna mess around with!!!
To my knowledge, the clear stamps are made of silicon type material. To my knowledge, silicon is non porous, and alot of kitchen ware is made from same kind of material. Now, as for what the difference is in the stamps and kitchen ware, I dont know, if there is any. I have worked in the food industry, albeit fast food, but a health card is a health card, and, as long as you sanatize after use, (I use dishwasher) there should be no problems. Hth, and if anyone knows for sure, please speak up, I would never want to harm anyone for any reason, no matter how cute it makes the cake.
Folks - the clear stamps are made from ingredients that should NEVER come near food. Same with most rubber.
We use a special rubber / asbestos free matrices to make our rubber. Our rubber even smells different...which is how, when we were sued for someone getting VERY sick from this process, the suit was thrown out.
Please be careful crafting with your food.
What ingredients are those sweetstampen??? I'm confused, because if something in non-porous, and is only in the ink/on the cake for seconds, how exactly does it cause harm and potentional sickness?? I wouldn't use the rubber, but certainly would have thought the clear ones would be fine...
But it also has to with the material the product is made from. There is food grade rubber and food grade silicone. The silicone in clear (or "booger" as we call them in the stamp trade) stamps is not ANYTHING that should come into contact with food. The food color that you end up putting on your food comes in contact with it.
Rubber is made through a very filthy process. Asbestos is still fairly common in matrices. Most commercial rubber is coated with a fine ground GLASS to make it through vulcanization. These are all things you don't want anywhere near your food.
Why take chances? But some always will. I've learned that through years of trying and trying to educate. For years, I had several nurses who taught for me and they would describe in great detail what food poisoning looks like in the ER. Their students ALWAYS got it.
Bottom line: I'm not the cookie police. People are gonna do what they are gonna do. Take shortcuts and play with their health and that of those they serve. Just don't sue me when it happens.
But it also has to with the material the product is made from. There is food grade rubber and food grade silicone. The silicone in clear (or "booger" as we call them in the stamp trade) stamps is not ANYTHING that should come into contact with food. The food color that you end up putting on your food comes in contact with it.
Rubber is made through a very filthy process. Asbestos is still fairly common in matrices. Most commercial rubber is coated with a fine ground GLASS to make it through vulcanization. These are all things you don't want anywhere near your food.
Why take chances? But some always will. I've learned that through years of trying and trying to educate. For years, I had several nurses who taught for me and they would describe in great detail what food poisoning looks like in the ER. Their students ALWAYS got it.
Bottom line: I'm not the cookie police. People are gonna do what they are gonna do. Take shortcuts and play with their health and that of those they serve. Just don't sue me when it happens.
Can you lead me to the testing results and criteria for these rubber stamps? Or any rubber stamps? I would really love to read this. I am sorry I never take anyone's word for this if it doesn't make sense for me and it's really hard to when someone is selling a product and they make claims. I am sorry I am not trying to be mean or hurt your business but I have heard claims before on things (Shacklee, magnets, paint rollers, Amway, etc) but I have never seen any testing results or testing criteria, always just someone saying it's so. I need to see proof. I'm sorry.
Well sadly, I can't. I bought this company from Chef Laure'l and she lost lots of her vital research in a flood. She was called before the FDA when she started getting a little too much attention for this process and she worked with a guy there to locate the right rubber. It was through working with them that we stopped using wood and cushion and switched to acrylic blocks.
So, I'm sorry I can't give you "proof." I can only share the knowledge I've gained doing this for 10+ years and working with Chef Laure'l for another 5.
I am guessing it would be pretty bad if the FDA contacted her and warned against using them and warned of heavy fines if the practice of using/teaching those type of stamps was continued.
Do you know anything about the clear craft vinyl that comes in a big roll in the craft section?
Sarah, I really don't have any experience professionally with that but as a woman who went through menopause in my 20s (and desperately wanted kids), I learned a lot about plastics that leach into our food supply. It stores in the liver and the intestines think it is needed female hormones and sends it right back to the liver. I believe this toxic level of "false" hormones is what caused my fertility issues. Which is one of the reasons I store my food in glass. Glass never leaches the was plastics can. I would think vinyl would fall under that category and for that reason, I personally would not use it.
Sarah, I really don't have any experience professionally with that but as a woman who went through menopause in my 20s (and desperately wanted kids), I learned a lot about plastics that leach into our food supply. It stores in the liver and the intestines think it is needed female hormones and sends it right back to the liver. I believe this toxic level of "false" hormones is what caused my fertility issues. Which is one of the reasons I store my food in glass. Glass never leaches the was plastics can. I would think vinyl would fall under that category and for that reason, I personally would not use it.
My grandmother went through menopause at 20 (she already had 3 kids thank goodness) and she was born in 1899, not too much plastic then so I am not sure what caused her to do that. I'm sorry that happened to you. Since her you are the only other person I have ever heard that happen to. It's terrible.
It was heartbreaking and probably my only regret in life.
is made from. The silicone in clear (or "booger" as we call them in the stamp trade) stamps is not ANYTHING that should come into contact with food. The food color that you end up putting on your food comes in contact with it.
What type of silicone is in this type of stamp. If the product is nontoxic it will still poison you? Just confused 
Are there any clear food grade stamps out there? They are easier to see with when stamping. Thanks for the insightful info sweetstampen.
Hammy
No there are NO food grade Clear stamps. The silicone they sell to us manufacturers is not a food grade. Someone tried to sell us equipment to to do the clear stamps a decade ago and after investigating, we decided against it fearing it would be too confusing for our established customer base.
We use acrylic blocks and can see just fine where we are stamping. 
I am sorry I never take anyone's word for this if it doesn't make sense for me and it's really hard to when someone is selling a product and they make claims. I am sorry I am not trying to be mean or hurt your business but I have heard claims before on things (Shacklee, magnets, paint rollers, Amway, etc) but I have never seen any testing results or testing criteria, always just someone saying it's so. I need to see proof. I'm sorry.[/quote]
I agree
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