Silver And Gold Dragees:edible Or Not?
Decorating By loriemoms Updated 24 Mar 2007 , 7:58pm by alicegop
I used to be able to buy them in even the grocery stores but now you can't get them anywhere, but online (just the silver and gold ones) Now whenever I look for them, they have a warning they aren't edible...
Did they change something with them? I used to put these on cookies all the time, and want to put them on a wedding cake.
can anyone give me the story behind this And why has california banned them?
like shakespeare said: 1st thing -- we kill all the lawyers!
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/12/23/MNGS03SUEM1.DTL
Definitely NOT!
Doug, I love the article. It really is ridiculous, although I for one am not a fan of dragees. Never have been.
Not because of the silver, but because I'm always afraid someone will break a tooth.
loriemoms, what about making some from MMF? They stay fairly soft, they're edible (and yummy) and they're real easy to make.
That is, if we can still buy silver lustre dust 
You wouldn't believe how fast they go. I can make hundreds in a couple of hours in one evening. Then I put them in the freezer. They keep a LONG time.
Just an idea....
I wonder if you could use a crafting tool that is used to make polymer clay beads? You put a piece of clay in, slide it 2 or 3 times, and out pops a perfectly round bead. Wonder if that would work with fondant or gumpaste? It's plastic, only about $3 I think. Let me see if I can find a picture......
Okay, this is of two of them sitting next to each other with an example of what the beads will look like.
I think using and eating dragees is a personal choice these days.
I tell people that I'll put them on something but that (even though we all ate tons of them as kids) they are technically considered inedible in certain areas of the US.
I had an order for 30 ornament cupcakes and the lady wanted every one decorated with dragees--so I went to town.
It's March and I haven't heard about any dental bills or funerals--yet
Rae
That crafting tool looks very useful and a great alternative!
Angie
Not because of the silver, but because I'm always afraid someone will break a tooth.
having once broken a tooth while eating -- a carrot!!! -- ya think I'm going to eat these!?! no way...
but if asked would add them to cake/cookies with a BIG disclaimer -- no I won't pay for your funeral or your dental work!
Been there, Doug--I broke a lower front tooth eating AN APPLE and of course, I was on vacation, no less. It's been re-bonded 3 times 
Rae
I bought one of those tools at Michaels a while back...it doesnt work well at all. I found it easier to just do it with the number 10 tip...I didnt make little tiny ones though. I guess I will give it a try. Does it come out as nice and shiny with the luster dust?
I wonder if you could use a crafting tool that is used to make polymer clay beads? You put a piece of clay in, slide it 2 or 3 times, and out pops a perfectly round bead. Wonder if that would work with fondant or gumpaste? It's plastic, only about $3 I think. Let me see if I can find a picture......
Okay, this is of two of them sitting next to each other with an example of what the beads will look like.
I use this tool and like it a lot. I can make a ton of beads really fast with it. They're much more perfect than any hand-rolled ones I've made. I think the ones made with white chocolate clay come out nicest using the roller, but I've made fondant, too. Every once in a while I spend an evening in front of the TV and roll beads. An evening's work will keep me supplied for months. With the chocolate clay, they stay on the soft side. The ones I made with fondant eventually got as hard as dragees.
So I'm in CA and my May cake wants the silver balls on the side of the cake. Is it that they are illegal or that you might get sued? Sometimes I'll put plastic decorations and flowers on my cakes and they aren't edible either... think I'll get sued over that? 
From reading that article it appears to be extortion on the part of that attorney.
So, anyone have any ideas what I might do (rolling 500 of them is not an option)
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