silver balls

[MaryH]

OK, so this isn't the most earth shattering thing, but I have been looking high and low for those little silver decorating balls (like for cakes, cupcakes, etc) and I cannot find them anywhere - not at the supermarkets, not at the gourmet shops, not at Cost Plus, etc.

So today I called Williams-Sonoma and the clerk told me that they are illegal in Ca. but I could order them through a mail order company

What I want to know, is that right? and if so, who is the ***$3 that passed the law. Seems a bit ridiculous but then again this is CA.

Oh, well, ho, ho, ho and off I go to a mail order company :D :D





:)

[jrichards]

Illegal??? Any idea why?

[Laura B]

Just to help you in your search, they are called dragees (there is an accent over one of the e but i don't know how to do that). I cannot imagine why they would be illegal in CA??

[MaryH]

I was just searching yahoo on this and apparently the correct name is "silver dragees" and the FDA requires a disclaimer that they are for decoration only, not edible because they have a minute amount of metal. As to why they're illegal, still don't know that one.

[Grace]

My mother decorates cakes, and told me they're illegal because they are covered with real silver, so I guess there is a concern about some kind of poisoning. Perhaps they thought small children who would be the most likely ones to eat too many of these would be most susceptible to any kind of poisoning. So I guess that must be the reasoning. I imagine you'd have to eat a lot of them though to actually get sick.

[Molli526]

They can't be that bad if Martha sells them on her website...

http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=product&id=product1488


Dragee Decorating Set
Price: $36.00

Dragees will make your cookies absolutely magical, whether you use one or decorate the whole surface. Imported from France, our exclusive dragées are coated in real silver and made only for decorative use. Our set includes six 3-oz. bottles of silver dragées ranging in size from 2 mm to 7 mm, stainless-steel tweezers for carefully placing dragées, a convenient storage tin, and instructions.

[Laura B]

All right. I have a question about these things. Some web sites litst them under edible decorations and some say that they are for decoration only. Is it OK to eat them (aside from the concern about the coating)? I love these things. I think they are so pretty. But I never make cookies just for decoration. We eat cookies around here! ;) Do y'all eat them? They would be so pretty in the center of spritz cookies, etc.

* OK, I just re-read Mary's post regarding the FDA's required disclaimer. Does that mean that I can ignore it? :)

[kidblink]

You can technically eat them. They're just so darn hard that I avoid them for fear I'll bite down in the wrong spot and wind up chipping a tooth or something.

[Molli526]

I agree with Grace that you would really have to eat a lot of them to get sick or why else would they make them as a decoration? I know I have eaten them before and I am still living:p

[HRJ]

They also have these listed on the King Arthur web site, in gold, pastel and silver, ranging in price from $4.50 to $6.25 for a 2-ounce bottle. (The gold ones are the most expensive).

The listing for the pastel dragees says they are for decoration only -- the listing for the silver and gold ones doesn't mention it either way.

I think I remember reading a while back about problems with kids who would eat like a whole bottle of these things at a time and get sick from the metal -- so I imagine that's why the FDA insists on the disclaimer.

Still -- as Laura said -- most people make cookies for eating.

[lisas3575]

http://www.nycakesupplies.com

[Kjente2]

I remember reading a big deal about this...that they were poisoness in some manner...its been a while, but there was a rather big todo about this

[Shirley Ekstein]

Well hec - we've been eating them for centuries over here - since at least 1700's - and as far as I know nobody's died from 'em yet. And anyway, gold and silver are inert - they may not do you any positive good but will certainly do you no harm.
However, ours are not covered in real silver and are dead cheap - if you'd like a box of them, e-mail me and I'll send you one.

Shirley

[Laura]

I've got to agree with Shirley on this one. I ate these things by the handful when I was a kid....but then again perhaps that explains some of my "quirks!"

[msdaisy]

They can't be illegal in California. I have seen them in at least 3 stores in just the past couple of weeks. I have to believe someone at WS was blowing smoke. Probably didn't even know what you were talking about! You know the type. Don't know the answer, so make one up.:D

[MaryH]

Msdaisy, that's what I thought so I thought someone here would know.

LauraB, - oh I'd definitely ignore it. I figure the FDA had someone complain so they did what they usually do and tell you everything will make you sick, ill, lose hair, etc, etc, etc (he, he, he, such the Christmas spirit but sometimes I can't help myself. :D

Shirley - I figure my body could use some metal and since gold and silver have value, maybe that means I'm worth more ?

[Shirley Ekstein]

Maybe!

[lsdesign]

Oh geez! Then I guess I should be dead by now with all of the metal fillings I have in my teeth.

[MaryH]

Msdaisy,

I'm curious as to where you saw them. Your info says you're in No. Cal. so if you have them there, they should be somewhere here.

Do you remember?

[Leonard]

I bought Martha Stewart's "Holiday Cookie" magazine like so many of you. In there say has a page of different decorations to you. As far as the silver balls ( can't remember the name), she says "for decoration only". To each his own! I must say, I can't imagine biting down on one of these! Aren't they really hard???

Patti

[msdaisy]

MaryH,

I found the dragees in cake decorating stores in Sacramento and Stockton. Unfortunately, not chain stores. I would imagine if you ask at your local bakery they can tell you where to get them. Some bakeries have them to sell.

[MaryH]

I'll be in Sacto next week. Was it downtown?

m

[msdaisy]

Not downtown, but in south Sacramento, just off of Florin Rd. Cake Castle Bakery at 5601 66th Ave. If you're familiar with Sacto, it is across from Florin Mall. They have 4 oz bags for $5.99. Another option is ordering them from Sugarcraft.com. Their's are 3 1/2 oz for $3.19. If you've never visited the sugarcraft.com site and you're a baker, you'll probaby enjoy just looking.