Excellent point on the use of luster dust. Using it on cakes that are going to be eaten is no different than using any other product marked non toxic, not edible. Dusts that are fda approved are available, but much more expensive. But still, if you're going to dust a cake, you should use fda approved dusts.
Some of these photo cakes are loaded with color - if you use regular printer ink and serve someone a piece that is literally covered in color, doesn't that seem odd? Doesn't that seem like a lot of ink to ingest?
I'm not advocating the use of regular ink for edible images, but when you think about it, it's a tiny, tiny amount of ink in the picture.
I hate math, but here goes...
1/2 ounce= 1 Tablespoon
A refill bottle of ink contains 2 ounces and refills a cartridge 4 times.
Knowing that we can assume that an ink cartridge holds approximately 1/2 ounce(or 1 T) of ink. For my 4 cartridge system the entire set holds 2 ounces of ink (or 4 T). If I get 40 images per set, that's 1/20th of an ounce of ink per picture on average.
On a 9/13 single layer, you get approximately 20 large servings. Just on average that would come out to each person ingesting 1/400th of an ounce of ink per person. To get a mental picture of just how much that is, imagine dividing a tablespoon of ink into 800 portions.
Taking into consideration that my math skills are next to nothing(the reason for being a decorator and not an engineer 
) it really isn't a lot of ink.
That all said, I still cringe at the thought of eating ink. 
Thank you justme50 -- my brain hurts from your math equation -- that is why I paid the big bucks to send my DS to college!!! 
When one considers what empty printer cartridges are doing to landfills, it does make me wonder about putting this on someone's cake or cookies!!
Its just not cost effective for me to purchase my own printer dedicated to this hobby of mine. Because that's just it -- a hobby. And considering there is just ONE grocery store chain here in town who will sell me a EI --- and only ONE of their 3 stores has a working printer, then perhaps I'll just stick with them.
PRINTER INK IS POISONOUS. IT CONTAINS INGREDIENTS THAT GET DEPOSITED IN THE BODY AND DO LONG TERM DAMAGE TO ORGANS. DO NOT PUT IT ON CAKES.
'Nuff said.
The short version: "Harmful if swallowed."
The long version:
Health Hazards
Any potential hazards are presumed to be due to exposure to the components.
Ethyl alkyldiol: Contact with eyes and skin may cause mild irritation.
2-Pyrrolidone: Contact with eyes and skin may result in irritation. Inhalation may result in respiratory irritation. Ingestion may result in nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Ammonium nitrate and metal nitrate: Contact with eyes and skin may cause irritation. Inhalation may cause respiratory irritation.
Note: Nitrates and their derivatives can cause methemoglobinemia and result in respiratory depression. Primary indicators of prolonged exposure include
shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness and cyanosis (bluish skin and lips).
1,5-Pentanediol: Contact with eyes and skin may cause irritation.
Alkyldiol ethoxylate #1: Contact with eyes may result in severe irritation and corneal injury. Contact with skin may result in severe irritation. Ingestion may cause irritation of mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Alkyldiol ethoxylate #2: Contact with eyes and skin may result in severe irritation. Ingestion may cause irritation of mouth, throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Cyan Ink Only:
Substituted phthalocyanine salt: Harmful if swallowed.
Magenta Ink Only:
Amino Alkyldiol: Contact with eyes and skin may result in irritation. Inhalation may result in respiratory irritation.
Source: Toxnet
PRINTER INK IS POISONOUS. IT CONTAINS INGREDIENTS THAT GET DEPOSITED IN THE BODY AND DO LONG TERM DAMAGE TO ORGANS. DO NOT PUT IT ON CAKES.
'Nuff said.
The short version: "Harmful if swallowed."
The long version:
Health Hazards
Any potential hazards are presumed to be due to exposure to the components.
Ethyl alkyldiol: Contact with eyes and skin may cause mild irritation.
2-Pyrrolidone: Contact with eyes and skin may result in irritation. Inhalation may result in respiratory irritation. Ingestion may result in nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Ammonium nitrate and metal nitrate: Contact with eyes and skin may cause irritation. Inhalation may cause respiratory irritation.
Note: Nitrates and their derivatives can cause methemoglobinemia and result in respiratory depression. Primary indicators of prolonged exposure include
shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness and cyanosis (bluish skin and lips).
1,5-Pentanediol: Contact with eyes and skin may cause irritation.
Alkyldiol ethoxylate #1: Contact with eyes may result in severe irritation and corneal injury. Contact with skin may result in severe irritation. Ingestion may cause irritation of mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Alkyldiol ethoxylate #2: Contact with eyes and skin may result in severe irritation. Ingestion may cause irritation of mouth, throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Cyan Ink Only:
Substituted phthalocyanine salt: Harmful if swallowed.
Magenta Ink Only:
Amino Alkyldiol: Contact with eyes and skin may result in irritation. Inhalation may result in respiratory irritation.
Source: Toxnet
Not a chance I'm willing to take!!!
[quote="tiggy2 Not a chance I'm willing to take!!![/quote]
Ditto - that's why earlier I stated I would continue to support my local grocery store with EI since my own printer/ink setup is too cost prohibitive!
(oooohhh, to be RICH enough to support my own cake addiction! )
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