A young boy who fell critically ill after inhaling non-edible cake decorating powder is making progress in his recovery, though medical experts caution that he remains in a serious condition. Dustin “Dusty” Wildman, aged just 14 months, inhaled a metallic rose gold decorating powder while his mother, Katie Robinson, was preparing a Bluey-themed birthday cake for a friend’s child last Friday.
Emergency Surgery and Induced Coma
The toddler required emergency surgery to remove the powder—which had transformed into a paste—from his lungs. Following the procedure, he was placed in an induced coma to aid his recovery. As his condition began to stabilise, his family experienced immense relief when his breathing tube was successfully removed on Thursday, allowing Dusty to breathe independently.
Update from the Family
“Dusty has had his breathing tube taken out and now has high-flow oxygen through nasal prongs,” Robinson shared in an update on a GoFundMe page established to support the family during this challenging time. “He is doing well breathing on his own. His meds have decreased but he is still in a drowsy state. The doctors are happy with his progression, however, (they are) still unsure about the lasting effects on the lungs.”
Friend and fundraiser organiser Rochelle Evrard described Dusty as a “little warrior” who is now able to enjoy “much longer for cuddles with mum today” following the removal of his breathing tube. Dusty’s parents, Katie and Chris, have been maintaining a constant vigil by his bedside at Queensland Children’s Hospital and have expressed heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support they have received.
Community Support and Warnings
“Thank you so, so much for the incredible amount of love and support for Dusty and his family,” Evrard conveyed on their behalf. “Ronald McDonald House have assured us Katie and Chris will have accommodation for the entire duration Dusty is in hospital so thank you to everyone who offered a place for them to stay.”
The family continues to urge people to thoroughly check their kitchens for “non-edible dusts” that may pose hidden dangers. Robinson explained that when the dust mixed with moisture, it turned into a paste that “immediately blocked Dusty’s lungs.” She recounted the terrifying moments: “He was coughing and getting really distressed and then he sort of became a bit more unresponsive. His eyes were rolling in his head and he couldn’t breathe properly. It was terrifying to watch.”
Product Testing and Supplier Action
Doctors sent the decorative powder for testing and discovered it contained copper and zinc compounds. “All these products look exactly the same and the fact that there’s toxic, non-edible products sitting right next to edible products that do the same job, technically, is the problem,” Robinson stated. The metal-based powder involved in the incident was labelled “for use on removable parts”—wording that Robinson believes is vague and open to misinterpretation.
“There are so many of these dusts that are edible and can be used on all edible parts of the cake,” she said. “Some people might think removable parts are still edible. So, it’s just so hard to know. This product was toxic; it contains metals that shouldn’t be ingested or inhaled.” The supplier has since removed the product from sale and contacted stockists, requesting that it be destroyed.
