Cake Decorating Powder Recalled Nationwide After Toddler’s ICU Horror

A nationwide product recall has been issued in Australia after a 14-month-old Gold Coast boy suffered a severe breathing emergency linked to a metallic cake decorating powder. The case has put fresh attention on a confusing corner of the baking aisle: decorative powders that look like edible cake toppings but may only be safe for removable decorations.

The recalled product is the Creative Cake Decorating metallic powder range supplied by Crumb Australia Pty Ltd. The affected colours include Rose Gold, Fiery Copper, Dior Gold, Platinum Silver and Champagne Gold. The products were sold nationally, internationally and online for almost seven years, between August 1, 2019 and May 6, 2026.

The recall followed the hospitalisation of Dustin “Dusty” Wildman, a toddler from the Gold Coast, after an incident at home on May 1. His mother, Katie Robinson, is a professional baker and was preparing a Bluey-themed birthday cake when Dusty found a small container of metallic decorating powder. Within moments, he had opened it and inhaled the fine dust.

What followed was not a minor choking scare. Dusty quickly became distressed, started coughing and struggled to breathe. He was taken for emergency medical care and later treated at Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, where doctors placed him in an induced coma as they worked to stabilise his condition.

Reports from the family and Australian media said the powder formed a sludge-like mass inside the toddler’s lungs after mixing with moisture in his airways. Doctors performed emergency treatment, and Dusty was placed on breathing support before later showing signs of recovery. His family has said he is now improving, though medical staff have warned that possible long-term lung impacts are still being assessed.

The official safety alert says the powders may contain copper and zinc dust, which can be toxic if inhaled or ingested. The Product Safety Australia recall notice urges consumers to stop using the products immediately, keep them away from children and return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

Why the recall has worried parents and bakers

The most troubling part of the case is how ordinary the product appeared. Metallic lustre powders are often used to create gold, silver, copper or rose-gold finishes on cakes, biscuits and decorative pieces. But not every product sold near cake decorating supplies is intended to be eaten.

In this case, the powder was labelled for use on removable cake parts. That means it should only be applied to decorations that are taken off before the cake is served. Robinson has argued that this type of wording can be unclear for shoppers, especially when non-edible and edible products are displayed close together and packaged in a similar way.

The phrase “non-toxic” can also create a false sense of safety. A product may be described as non-toxic in one context but still pose serious health risks if a child breathes it into the lungs or swallows it. Fine powders are particularly dangerous because they can be inhaled quickly and travel deep into the airways.

Crumb Australia had reportedly begun removing the products from shelves and contacting stockists before the official recall was published. The recalled powders had been sold through cake decorating stores and online retailers, including suppliers such as Bake & Deco, Cake Bake Decorate, Cake Deco Supplies, Cake Tinz & Thingz, Cakers Paradise, Cakers Warehouse, Choice Cakes, Gold Coast Cake Supplies, Hollywood Cake Decorations, Latorta, One Stop Cake Decorations, Parties Plus More, Silver Stars and Sugartime.

Consumers who have used these powders on cakes should check whether the product was applied directly to edible surfaces or only to removable decorations. Anyone who still has a container from the recalled Creative metallic range should seal it, store it away from children and return it for a refund rather than continue using it.

Authorities have also advised urgent action if someone inhales or ingests the powder. If the person has difficulty breathing, call triple-0 immediately. For poisoning advice in Australia, the Poisons Information Centre can be contacted on 13 11 26.

How to check cake decorating powders at home

Parents and bakers should look closely at every metallic dust, lustre powder or shimmer product in their kitchen or baking kit. A safe edible product should clearly state that it is edible or food-grade. Wording such as “for decorative use only” or “for removable decorations” should be treated as a warning that the product is not meant to be consumed.

It is also sensible to keep all fine powders away from children, even when they are food-safe. Small containers can be opened quickly, and a child does not need to swallow much for a powder to become dangerous if inhaled. Products used for professional baking should be stored with the same care as cleaning products, medicines or craft chemicals.

The incident has now become more than one family’s emergency. It has raised questions about how baking decorations are labelled, where they are placed in stores and whether consumers can easily tell the difference between edible and non-edible products. For parents already following product safety alerts, it fits into a wider pattern of recalls involving children’s products and household items. Swikblog recently covered another Australian safety alert involving children’s play sand recalled over asbestos concerns.

Dusty’s recovery has brought relief, but the recall is a serious warning for households. A small container of decorative powder may look harmless beside cake tins and sprinkles, yet the wrong product in the wrong hands can quickly become a medical emergency.

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