Yes, yes, this is an old chestnut, but sadly, the use of disco dust directly on foods remains a constant in the decorating industry.

As of today, 1/15/2016, the FDA has issued a formal advisory regarding the use of non-toxic, inedible dusts directly on food. 

The agency clearly states that a non-toxic product  is for use ONLY on decorations that will be removed  AND that if a producer puts such a product directly on food, that producer can be subject to an enforcement action. 

This should suffice to disabuse decorators of the myth that putting disco dust directly on food is an "option" or a choice.

Please pass the link and/or information on to others--clients, bakers, decorators, etc.

http://www.fda.gov/food/ingredientspackaginglabeling/foodadditivesingredients/ucm481466.htm

yes! thanks for posting maybenot

excellent, passing this along...

Funny you should post this today.  I was just watching the kids baking championship with my daughter last night. It's the one hosted by Duff.  The kids were putting what they were calling "edible disco dust" all over their cakes.  One put it all over the fondant and the other was putting it all over a buttercream cake (which they all were eating at the end of the show).

I was kinda floored that Duff didn't realize it wasn't edible.  I'm not aware of any "disco dust" that is edible but maybe I'm wrong.  

I just watched that same episode last night with the sparkles on top of the cakes. I was thinking it was crystalized  colored sugar but then again I only saw part of that episode so maybe I missed it where they showed it being edible disco dust.  If it was disco dust I am also surprised that Duff would not say anything about it.

Yeah, they were actually calling it "edible disco dust" and one was applying it with a paint brush.  I don't know, maybe they just called it the wrong name....

I thought it was very odd.

Sadly, I'm not the least bit surprised.  Duff and Buddy have both described disco dust as "edible".  Smaller online sellers also call it "edible glitter".  Hopefully this FDA advisory will tamp things down a bit--if enough people pass the information along.

Thanks for posting, Maybenot

I've found a great use for the NON-edible disco dust in the back of my cake closet; it works just great as decorative glitter for polymer clay!