<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
With a long background in art, originally trained in art education, I
take a strong interest in the recent concern over
the gf status of art supplies for children. This concern is highly
justified.
Wheat byproducts are frequently used in watercolor paints, poster &
"tempera" paints, "clays," commercial papier-mache kits, paste, &
glue. It acts as a binder for pigments, and improves the texture and
spreadability of many products. It is the main ingredient in common
library paste. Even crayons, which use wax as a binder, have their
labels glued on with what is probably a gluten (glue, gluten, get
it?) based adhesive.
The manufacturer would need to be asked for the wheat (and other
dangerous grains) byproduct status of each product.
If the manufacturer is uncooperative, the only safe course is to
refuse to buy the questionable product. Although manufacturers of
children's supplies are well aware of the need to use non-poisonous
pigments by now, they are probably not aware of the dangers of a
common ingredient like wheat starch & flour to sensitive users.
Especially to children, who accidentally or deliberately get lots of
things in their mouths.
Lots of children develop, for example, a "taste for paste" and will
eat it on purpose.
Warn celiac children never, never, ever to put paste, paint, glue,
clay, etc. in their mouths, and to wash their hands thoroughly after
using such supplies, especially before eating. The most dangerous
place for this is probably school.
At home, use only the products you know are safe, or make your own.
Libraries, bookstores, toy stores, craft supply houses all carry
books that can give you make-your-own directions. Just use
gluten-free flour instead of wheat; you may need to add egg to help
bind it, or use milk instead of water to help the binding. I guess
just experiment. Colors are available from many natural, non-gluten,
non-alcohol sources, like boiling onion skins for yellow, beets for
red, spinach for green, etc. Your child will enjoy helping to make
the supplies with you.
One book that I highly recommend (I have no financial interest in it)
is "The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques" by Ralph Mayer.
This has been an essential reference for artists for a long time; you
will want the latest edition (mine is from 1964, The Viking Press,
NY). It gives all the ingredients in many art products, and has lots
of detailed recipes to make your own. It's probably more than most
parents would want to know :-) but you might want to check it out.
Let me give a couple of relevant quotes:
"Common paste is made by mixing flour or starch smooth with a little
water, then adding more water to make a thin, milky consistency, and
carefully heating with constant stirring until the batch thickens."
Page 420.
"Dextrin. Dextrin is manufactured from wheat starch and comes on the
market in a number of grades . . . .it finds many uses in industry
where a cold adhesive is required, but only the white sort is
recommended for paint-binder use.White library paste is often made
from dextrin. Its property of drying to a comparatively glossy finish
makes it of value in some paper-coating and water-varnish uses. It is
employed in some commercial water colors, and also in admixture with
animal glues for special purposes. It is probably the chief binding
ingredient in the English 'designers colors.' Another name for
dextrin is British gum." Pages 420-421.
Until manufacturers become educated to be more responsive to the
special needs of CD children, self-education is the only way to be
safe. Good luck to all the parents and children out there, and Good
Health to all!
Bobbi in Baltimore
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