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Decoupage Plastic Coffee Cups

Are Decoupage Materials Safe for Food Use?

Hello,

I have plastic coffee travel cups that I want to decoupage fabric onto. Can this be done and still use the cups?

Deborah

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I would say yes, though many would caution you against eating from decoupaged items.

Just be sure that your decoupage medium is completely cured before applying your finish coats and then allow the cups to cure for at least thirty days before use.

I also recommend hand washing.

The fact that very few durable finishing products such as polyurethane are labeled “food safe” does not mean that the others are not. Only a few manufacturers have gone through the expensive FDA approval process that allows them to use the “food safe” designation.

Mod Podge is labeled non-toxic, so there is no concern about the decoupage medium itself. However you will need a more durable topcoat. I recommend an acrylic polyurethane.

Mod Podge never comes to a hard cure. In the presence of moisture, it will feel tacky. Over time the accumulated exposure to moisture would probably loosen your decoupaged fabric.

When you purchase the polyurethane, ask to see the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). Law requires that the MSDS be provided upon request. All unsafe uses of products are required by law to be listed on these forms, along with information about treatments for resulting health problems.

What FDA Approval Means

The FDA has published regulations to establish food safety of finishes (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Part 175).

There are two conditions for meeting these regulations. First, the ingredients must be on an established list of proven safe ingredients (new ingredients are added by petition after tests have proven them safe). Polyurethane is listed as safe in Part 177.

Second, the finish must be proven to cure “completely”, meaning that it does not leach more than a tiny amount of drying agent (solvent or metallic agent) once cured.

What makes the FDA process so expensive for manufacturers is that every batch made must be cure-tested to assure there has been no contamination during the manufacturing process.

When selecting your polyurethane, if it does not have the FDA “food safe” label, choose the product of a company you trust. If you’ve ever toured a large chemical plant, you would likely be impressed by the cleanliness and safety measures employed.

Is There Cause for Concern with Drying Agents Used Today

There is no evidence that the drying agents used in finishes today pose any health risk. In addition, the amount used is very small and, after proper curing, 99.9999% (I made that number up, but you get my point.) has evaporated. What is left is a plastic durable coating.

Even if one of your cups were chipped by someone chewing on the cup; and then that someone swallowed the chip, the plastic is indigestible and would simply pass through the body.

Polyurethane finishes are applied to wooden baby furniture. My guess is that more plasticized polyurethane passes through teething babies’ bodies than they could ever ingest from your decoupaged cups.

If you wish to read the FDA commentaries on finish safety yourself, click here and here.

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Recommended Reading

These books are excellent resources for decoupeurs. Not only do you get tips and techniques, but also artwork that you can use in your own projects.

New Decoupage: Transforming Your Home With Paper, Glue, and Scissors By: Durwin Rice The Victorian Scrap Gallery: A Collection of over 500 Full-Color Victorian-Era Images By: Dee Davis Absolute Beginner's Decoupage: The Simple Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Beautiful Decoupage By: Alison Jenkins Collage Discovery Workshop: Make Your Own Collage Creations Using Vintage Photos, Found Objects and Ephemera By: Claudine Hellmuth 930 Matchbook Advertising Cuts of the Twenties and Thirties (Pictorial Archive Series) By: Trina Robbins Decoupage: A Practical Guide to the Art of Decorating Surfaces with Paper Cutouts By: Dee Davis

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