AIBU to serve up a cake that has contact glitter on it instead of edible?

[ChrissieLatham]

I have made a birthday cake for my DD but on reading the glitter pot that I thought was edible glitter it says it's "food contact glitter for removable cake decorations"!!
I bought it in a bit of a rush and because it was with all the food colours I just assumed it was edible. Now I've read the pot afterwards and not sure if I should serve it up. It took so long to make and looks really pretty! The website says its non-toxic so what harm could it do? Glittery poo?!

[ScarlettDarling]

Ooh, saw your re posted pic of the op's photo queen, great cake.

[DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease]

Thank you for your explanation of non toxic Somerville, I'd still eat a slice of this cake. Glitter is a tiny amount.

[purplefizz26]

I would serve it but prewar everyone, it's not toxic, won't harm you, but not edible and they can decide whether to take icing off or not.

A little sprinkle across the entire cake wouldn't bother me but a thick layer would probably be a bit horrid to chew and swallow.

[Somerville]

Why bring a difference of opinion on factual information down to the level of name calling, MuseumOfCurry?

MaryBerrysSoggy There is an awful lot of misinformation in your post. Using only substances that have their ingredients listed is absolutely essential, and legally enforceable even in a home kitchen - you should read the FSA link I posted above.

I have someone in my immediate family with a severe nut allergy and someone else with asthma that can be triggered by plastics ao I need to look at labels. No-one should be passing off glittery icing as edible glitter when it is not.

[Wildwillow]

I use the same 'edible' glitter and only after serving it up several times did i read the very small print. Happy to report no adverse effects to my guests. Just be sensible I guess... I just used a tiny sprinkle to top off cup cakes etc. Goodness knows what has been accidentally / inadvertently consumed over the years by us all... Personally I'd be a lot more concerned by chewing gum and plum stones...

[DameXanaduBramble]

Oh I used that stuff too! I had the same dilemma. Everyone was fine!

[2kids2dogsnosense]

if it's non-toxic they likely won't digest it and it will come out in the toilet!

I would serve it - and tell them that they may well have sparkly poo for a couple of days (my kids would have regarded this as a bonus!).

[klassy]

I agree with Somerville - we have allergies in the family and you learn not to risk this stuff.

Beautiful cake though OP I hope whoever does dig into it (or bits of it) enjoys it!

[Purplebluebird]

Love the cake! I would keep it for the decoration and then make/buy a simpler cake for guests :P

[NerrSnerr]

I very much doubt many people at all have had allergic reactions to food glitter or there would be warnings on the label. If there was any risk of egg, nut allergy etc they would have to be more explicit (and there'd have been a few fail sadface articles!)

[Evergreen17]

I wouldnt. If you want to eat it go ahead but I think it is pretty bad to give it to others without warning.
Just say I am sorry I made a mistake so please dont eat the icing/ scrap the icing.
I dont want to eat glitter thanks and I feel it is awful to lie to people

[LilaTheLion]

There is no list of indredients so it is impossible to know if the item is vegetarian or vegan or contains lactose or nuts or pork gelatine

Surely anyone avoiding these things would ask if the cake contained them and be told "don't know", so could avoid?

Play doh could be used instead of icing. To stick it to the sponge, we could use Pritt Stick. And then we could decorate it with children's nail polish. All non toxic. But I bet we'd end up with constipation if we served it. Yummy, huh?

No. That would taste nasty. But previously edible glitter looks pretty and tastes of nothing and probably won't hurt.

[Somerville]

No Nell there wouldn't (and don't) have to be allergy warnings on the label because decorating glitter is not a foodstuff. Just like there doesn't have to be an ingredient list on the label. The FSA guidance in 2012 clarified this. It is very clear on their website - linked above - that so-called contact glitter should not be allowed to drop onto any part of the food that will be eaten. It is only for decorations that will be removed and should be affixed in such a way that it doesn't inadvertently drop onto the cake.

It is really bad that some shops still put the edible glitter and the contact glitter beside each other so errors like OP's easily occur.

[OohMavis]

This stuff is so fine and sparkly, a little goes a really long way. The amount ingested will be infinitesimal. And like Mary points out it was previously considered absolutely fine to eat!

Allergies are taken super seriously on labels for cake decorating supplies, if there was any risk it'd be in nice big letters on the front.

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

It would be a crying shame to waste such an amazing cake. How annoying that the glitter was in a cake decorating display but it's not suitable for cakes!!

Maybe pull off the icing when serving kids and warn adults.
Are you eating the dolly on top too? Someone might choke on the hair.

[Mishegoss]

My kids have eaten crayons, sand, poo (human and goose) and compost. Quite frankly glitter is fine dining on their scale of inedibles. Tell the parents and let them decide. I wouldn't be freaking out.

[throughgrittedteeth]

Mishegoss

[KoalaDownUnder]

That cake is gorgeous!!

I'd serve it and eat it, and just warn everyone.

[Somerville]

Allergies are taken super seriously on labels for cake decorating supplies

I'm sorry to bang on about this but allergies are serious and this isn't true. Yes, for edible supplies. Not for inedible supplies - like this Rainbow Dust.

One my my kids has the constitution of an ox, would think potentially glittery poo was the most fun thing ever, and would eat a piece excitedly. Probably even if it did have Play Doh or PVA glue on it too. But my child with asthma has to be very careful about plastics - there are household cleaners and shower gels that we have to avoid - yes and some are non-toxic - because they trigger an asthma attack. She wouldn't dream of checking a cake didn't have plastics in. Because who would think it would? But that's what the glitter is in that Rainbow Dust, I'm pretty sure. And who knows what the goop it is suspended in is made from. Since the 2012 FSA clarification, manufacturers have had to only use tested ingredients, and list them along with allergens, in the edible stuff. But they've been free to put any old cheap shite in the non-edible stuff as long as they stick a warning on that it's not to be ingested.

[nothruroad]

Your cake is absolutely amazing. I've been using that glitter for years and feeding it to people and nobody has ever been ill or suffered because of it. I'd just try to forget you read the small print to be honest.

[VestalVirgin]

Just remove the glitter before serving.

I like decorating birthday cakes for family, and if I used sugar-based decorations, no one wants to eat them, anyway, because they are hard and much too sweet. (Marzipan is more popular)

I have sometimes considered just using non-edible, but non-toxic decorations as to not waste food.

[Thatwaslulu]

I would serve it. Until very recently, most contact glitter was graded as edible but a change in the labelling requirements a couple of years ago meant most of it had to be labelled non edible. I have some identical.glitter (different colours but same range) bought two years ago part and one says it's edible and the other contact. It will be fine. If people can eat mould on cheese they can ingest a bit of glitter.

[Mummyrowland]

if I were you I would show it off and then serve it - perhaps put it in party bags and explain to the parents collecting what you have done - that way its their choice. Probably don't give it out to eat at the party (unless the parents are all staying)

its an amazing cake - sooooo impressed

[Jumpmom1]

I was told the glitter was edible on my son's birthday cake and we all are it. As far as I know everyone is alive....

[littlemisseatsherfeelings]

Serve it. Just let them know. It's their choice if they eat it.

I agree with what Grumpyoldbag said.

It's beautiful by the way, well done!!