Help! Can't Use Dragees-What Do I Do?
Decorating By brubake Updated 20 Dec 2005 , 2:13pm by cakeconfections
Apparently silver dragees are now a non food decoration only item. Before I knew this, I commited to doing a wedding cake with about a zillion of them on the bottom of each tier.
Any ideas for alternatives? Is there a way to make metallic silver icing that I could pipe?
Even the metallic dusts that would be used to paint/pipe silver are now considered for decoration only 
You can still use the dragees on cakes but you have to specify that they are for decoration only and shouldn't be eaten. Maybe even have a waiver signed...
I don't know why they are not safe...but you can pipe silver or gold icing with this recipe:
2 tsp. powdered sugar
2 tsp gold or silver metallic luster dust
clear alcohol
1 tsp. piping gel
on a small plate, mix sugar and luster dust. Add a few drops clear alcohol (gin or vodka is great) and mix well with a small palette knife to form a stiff paste.
Add the piping gel and mix well until the consistency for piping is reached.
Double or triple for larger batches....save leftovers in fridge .....I hope this helps...
I did the same thing with a very large 3 tiered anniversary cake that I made. I didn't realize that NO ONE in my area sells the edible ones!!! They were crucial to the cake so I went ahead and used the non-edible ones and told the woman to make sure and remove them. A pain, but if you want the look!!! The other option is to make your own as Mac suggested but I didn't want to go through the effort!! Good luck!
It is so ironic.....the government approves of not putting restrictions on air pollution, and yet they disapprove of silver dragees. They may as well outlaw twinkies, McDonald's, sweet-n-low and Cheez whiz...I bet you'd find lots of stuff in there that's just as bad if not worse than silver dragees. UGH!! (on a mad rampage!! MUST HAVE DRAGEES!!)
Even the metallic dusts that would be used to paint/pipe silver are now considered for decoration only You can still use the dragees on cakes but you have to specify that they are for decoration only and shouldn't be eaten. Maybe even have a waiver signed...
There is some info on sugarcraft.com-I couldn't get the link to post right but just look up dusts and there are several links. But it talks about the dragees can be used but would have to be removed.
You can still use them, and unless you live in California you can order them online.Here's a site that has them:
http://www.candylandcrafts.com/dragees.htm
It's the silver and gold powder that has been deemed "unsafe" for consumption by the FDA, but they won't make you any sicker than luster dust would, which is also labeled for decoration only. I think you'd have to eat a ton of them to feel any effect. You'd probably get a tummyache from the sugar first.
In other words, if you're not in CA and have time to order them, that's what I'd do.
*edited cuz I left an incomplete thought
Ok, I did some research. They are only harmful if you eat them in huge quantities every day over an entire lifetime.
There is a lawyer named Mark Pollock in California who is initiating legislation against their use in that state because of a potential for them to be harmful if people eat fistfuls for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Who seriously is going to do that?
To me, I think this dude has a bit too much time on his hands than to panic the country over silver dragees.
People continue to put sweet and low in their coffee, but they don't pour gallons of it in. If they did, then it would be really harmful. In small doses on occasion, it's fine.
He's really hurt the cake decorating industry in California and has managed to tick off many online cake supply stores.
I agree with you. I think they're safe to eat and outside of the states, they are considered edible. The problem is that the FDA has declared them unsafe for decades. The lawsuits in CA have in a way enforced the FDA regulations since people continued to use them despite the FDA findings. If you use them on cakes, cookies etc and don't disclose that they are for decoration only, you may open yourself up to being sued no matter what state you live in but especially in CA.
Maybe they should put silver dragees in the category with Sudafed, which I have to show my drivers license to buy. May kids make meth with the silver and gold dusts????? Or is it b/c they have trans-fat and they made me fat? I can't remember 
Yet they still allow people to smoke when we all know smoking can kill you.
Great idea to make dragees illegal to buy and sell and use, but cigarettes well.... no biggie.
The common sense baffles me. For the record I don't care if anyone does smoke, just making a comparison.
Thanks everybody. Honestly, when she showed me the picture of the cake, I was more worried that someone would break a tooth instead of getting sick from silver poisoning. I think I will try the recipe using the piping gel, tell the caterer serving it to scrape them off, and have the customer sign a waiver. That way all of my bases are covered! 
Yet they still allow people to smoke when we all know smoking can kill you.
Great idea to make dragees illegal to buy and sell and use, but cigarettes well.... no biggie.
The common sense baffles me. For the record I don't care if anyone does smoke, just making a comparison.
The only thing that saves the tobacco industry is that the FDA doesn't regulate them. They've tried but... If little dragees only had as much political influence 
Along the same vein, it's the same for all the dusts too right? I have to do a wedding cake with white chocolate seashells that they wanted colored but still be edible. I looked on sugarcraft and they have a brand Crystal Colors that is FDA approved but I'm not sure if they have any shimmer to them and they are $5 a jar!!
You know what's really odd is that I'm looking through the latest ACD (American Cake Decorating mag) and they're giving cake instructions calling for the use of dragees and metallic dusts 
No mention of them being inedible. Did they not get the memo? Or is it not that big a deal?
the crystal colors do not have any shimmer to them. they are just true food color. (very deep and vibrant) The cost $5.00 but a little truly goes along way. If u want some shimmer u may hafta use the wilton shimmer stuff... or will crushed edible glitter work I wonder?
I purchased two containers of luster dust (expensive stuff!) in October 2005, one silver, the other gold. BOTH containers say right on them "Non Toxic". So I'm confused. Dragees are considered unsafe, but luster dust is not? Or is the maker of the luster dust I purchased falsely advertising??
I agree with the smoking thing (although in Maine, you can't smoke in any public place anymore, not even a bar - Yahoo!!). And I also agree with the theory that you'd have to eat large quantities of luster dust/dragees to develop any kind of sickness. Just MHO.
I purchased two containers of luster dust (expensive stuff!) in October 2005, one silver, the other gold. BOTH containers say right on them "Non Toxic". So I'm confused. Dragees are considered unsafe, but luster dust is not? Or is the maker of the luster dust I purchased falsely advertising??
Non-toxic doesn't mean edible and those are also considered by the FDA to be for deco only. The dusts/dragees are considered edible outside of the states though which might explain the labeling.
My goodness, I was horrified to read these posts. You can buy these thing in the supermarket in Australia. I am hoping you are all talking about what i've attached as a picture here, cause we call them cachous in Australia.
I am originally from Uruguay, and when we were growing up our birthday cakes consisted of a buttercake filled with caramel, covered in boiled meringue and sprinkled with cachous all over. They were the only decorating item we were able to get our hands on at the time.
So far i've only used them on one cake, but thank goodness we are can still to use them and buy them freely.
Nati
It's just crazy! I don't understand why the FDA doesn't deem McDonald's toxic. It's high fat food causes tons of diseases: obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure. When then, criminalize a piece of candy? It IS horrifying that people are going to pick on a little silver candy that has been used in Europe for centuries. I am not sure of the exact history of this candy, but I don't think there are many Europeans keeling over from silver dragee poisoning. I just have a hard time with the hypocrisy that goes on with our decision makers sometimes.
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