[Sca-cooks] Re: Sculpey molds and/or decorations

[RUTH EARLAND]

Elise Fleming wrote:

>>I asked him about using Sculpy since previous discussion on one list or
>>another had indicated that Sculpy was not usable for food items.  His
>>opinion was that just pressing in an item and removing it right away would
>>not make the item inedible.  I'd like commentary, if you please, since
>>that's my feeling as well.  I can't imagine that Sculpy would be so 
>>"toxic"
>>that using it as a mold where an item was pressed in and immediately
>>removed would cause the item to be unfoodworthy.  I wouldn't see baking in
>>a Sculpy mold, but pressing???
>>
>>
>>Alys Katharine
>>
>>

Brighid ni Chiarain wrote:

> I use a Sculpy mold (and a couple of pottery ones) to make my marzipan
> peach pits.  To the best of my knowledge, no one has died yet.  Sculpy
> is labelled non-toxic, and though I wouldn't use it for a coffee mug, I
> don't thiink that brief contact with food is hazardous.
>
> I found a link to a material safety study at the manufacturer's website:
> http://www.sculpey.com/Products/PR_ACMI.htm
>
> I am not a chemist or any kind of medical professional -- perhaps
> someone with better qualifications could take a look at this and comment?
>
> -- 
> Brighid ni Chiarain
> Barony of Settmour Swamp, East Kingdom
> Robin Carroll-Mann *** rcmann4 at earthlink.net


Well, I am a chemist, and I wouldn't hesitate to use it for something which 
will contact food briefly. I read the results of the materials study in the 
link provided and am satisfied that the safety of the product in question is 
fine to use as a mold. To summarize, the study found no harmful effects in 
dosages up to 24 mg/day. Put another way, if someone actually ate the 
Sculpey, the person would have to eat something the size of a peppercorn 
each and every day to consume more than the amount found safe by the study. 
And even then, they are not saying it would be harmful, just that they don't 
know what it would do.

The study indicates that a marginally greater exposure risk is present 
during baking, and even then only at temperatures that blacken the Sculpey. 
So if you want to minimize the risk of exposure, you could make sure you use 
the exhaust fan and ventillate the kitchen as much as possible.

As I suspected, though, the safety issues are connected to the dyes. The 
phthalates mentioned usually show up as blue or green dyes. So if you want 
to be extra safe, use the white sculpey, which is probably colored with 
titanium dioxide, a biologically inert material used to lend opacity to 
non-dairy creamer.

Berelinde Cynewulfdohtor
Barony of Settmour Swamp, East Kingdom
mka Ruth Tannahill