A two-year-old boy in Queensland, Australia, was placed in an induced coma after inhaling a metallic cake decorating powder that has since been urgently recalled nationwide.
The incident occurred on 1 May when Dusty Wildman, while his mother Katie Robinson was baking a birthday cake, opened a container of gold lustre dust. He began coughing and showing signs of severe distress, becoming unresponsive with rolling eyes and breathing difficulties.
Paramedics rushed him to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, where doctors removed copper particles from his airways and lungs before inducing a coma. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) confirmed the powder contains copper and zinc, which can be harmful if inhaled or ingested.
The product, sold under the Creative brand by Crumb Australia, has been available since 2019. The recall covers all five colours: rose gold, fiery copper, Dior gold, platinum silver, and champagne gold. The ACCC advises consumers to stop using it immediately and return it for a refund.
Dusty has since been taken off a breathing tube and is recovering, though doctors warn of possible long-term health complications. His mother noted the packaging described the dust as “non-toxic” and intended for removable cake parts, but it was displayed alongside edible decorating products, causing confusion.
