Gum Paste & Petal Dust - Alert Guests that it's Not Safe to Eat?

I just looked it up, and gum paste is fondant. It may not taste that great if eaten alone, but there should be no issue if someone eats it.

I'm not 100% sure that gum paste and fondant are the same thing - I read a couple of articles that said it's not meant to be eaten and I know you can eat fondant. Either way, even if the gum paste is OK to be eaten, the petal dust could still be an issue. It's not FDA approved for consumption in the US but it's commonly used for decorating cakes so I know this has to have come up for someone...?

Hmm, they look edible to me, particularly the brown ones. I think it would be easy to assume they're chocolate?

I haven't seen them on cupcakes at weddings, but whenever they were on the cake, the cake was served without them. I think.

Well I just read that gum paste dries really hard and is difficult to bite into and also tastes really gross. So I'm assuming that even if anyone takes a bite, they won't be eating more than that bite. Everything I've read said that the amount consumed would be so little that it really wouldn't do any harm. But I'm still not sure if I should make sure everyone knows...or the best way to go about doing that.

Http://www.gingerbread-house-heaven.com/gum-paste-recipe.html this is for gum paste. http://candy.about.com/od/candyglossary/a/What-Is-Luster-Dust.htm luster dust.

MJ - I appreciate your help but I already read the article about luster dust and it specifically states that it is non-toxic but not meant to be eaten. I really just needed suggestions on what I should do about the fact that it will be on my cupcakes. Do I make a sign saying they shouldn't be eaten? Do I have the DJ announce it? Do I just let it go since it's non-toxic since most people probably won't eat them anyway?

I updated the title of the discussion - maybe that will help.

Gum paste isn't meant to be eaten, and it has a hard rubbery texture when it dries so it feels more like decoration than food, if that makes any sense. I'm pretty sure you won't die if you eat it, but I imagine your guests will realize they are meant to be removed. Also, those are super cute!

Thanks Andrea. That's what I'm thinking too...I just wonder if it's my responsibility to say something. Though, like I said before, I've never been to a wedding (or any other event) where I was warned about eating the decorative elements of the cake. That makes me wonder if it's even worth mentioning.

Why is your FSIL making something to put on a cupcake that's not edible? I can understand a cake, b/c you can easily pull that out and not put it with the slices of cake...but IMO, I think a cupcake should be 100% edible...it's an individual cake. Are the leafs above for YOUR cupcakes?

Seems like such a waste of time to make these and then put them onto the cupcake for them to just be thrown out.

Cydney - Yes, the leaves are for each cupcake. I don't think she realized prior to making them that they weren't intended to be edible. They are meant to be decorative and she already made them so the time has been wasted already. Nothing we can do about that now.

I don't think it's much different than when you top cupcakes with little plastic decorative things for a kid's birthday party or other function. You buy them with the intention of it being a decoration and then they get thrown out. To me it's a waste of money but people do it all the time.

I know I can't be the only person who has had cupcakes with gum paste decoration on them for their wedding.

Yeah...I guess the little plastic things for birthday parties make sense...though all my nieces who have had those get ones with rings or necklaces for the girls to wear after they eat their cupcakes.

I probably wouldn't worry too much about it. Chances are, most people will remove the decoration and put it aside...and for those who decide to try a bite will probably spit it out b/c of how gross gum paste tastes.

That's what I'm thinking too. I am making a sign for the cupcake table that will have each of the flavors on it. If anything, I might just put something at the bottom that says: Leaves are for decorative purposes only

Might be a good idea just to be sure