In the UK, plastic toys should not be placed in direct contact with cakes sold commercially unless they are certified food-safe. Most standard children’s toys are not tested for prolonged contact with buttercream, fondant or sponge under food contact material regulations.
We receive many requests for custom novelty cakes at our bakery. These often feature favourite animals, superheroes, or characters like Disney princesses and the Gruffalo.
To bring these themes to life, the character usually needs to feature on the cake itself. The two most common approaches are hand-modelled edible fondant figures or plastic toys. Here is how they compare.
Fondant Figures vs. Plastic Toys: A Comparison
Fondant Figures (Edible)
Materials: Made with fondant (sugarpaste) or gum paste, coloured with food-grade colourings. Structural supports such as cocktail sticks or wires are food-safe and removed before serving.
Flavour: Sweet. Children often enjoy them as part of the cake.
Aesthetics: Depending on the skill of the cake artist, they can be highly detailed and seamlessly integrated into the overall design.
Cost: Labour-intensive and therefore typically more expensive.
Environmental Impact: Edible and biodegradable.
Plastic Toys (Non-Edible)
Materials: Typically manufactured from polymers such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), often with additives including plasticisers and colourants.
Flavour: Not intended for ingestion.
Aesthetics: Factory-produced, durable and highly detailed.
Cost: Economical, and reusable as a toy after the cake is served.
Environmental Impact: Non-biodegradable.
Are Plastic Toys Legally Allowed on Cakes?
This is the key question. We consulted the Food Standards Agency (FSA), our Environmental Health Officer (EHO), and Trading Standards. According to The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2012, Part 8, Section 18:
(1) Materials and articles, other than those controlled by Regulation 10/2011, made with vinyl chloride polymers or copolymers:
(a) must not contain vinyl chloride monomer exceeding 1 milligram per kilogram; and
(b) must not transfer more than 0.01 milligrams of vinyl chloride per kilogram of food.
(2) No person may place on the market or use in connection with food any material not complying with paragraph (1).
In practical terms, any material placed in direct contact with food must comply with strict migration limits. Most children’s toys are not manufactured or certified for food contact.
Because toys rarely carry food-contact certification, commercial bakeries should not place them directly into buttercream or sponge for sale.
Why Toys Without Food-Safe Certification Are Risky
Toy manufacturers ensure their products are safe for play. They are not required to test them for prolonged contact with fatty, moist or temperature-sensitive foods — conditions commonly present on cakes.
Buttercream contains fat, which can draw certain compounds from plastics. Sugar and moisture alter surface interaction. Temperature changes during display or transport may increase migration potential.
If a decoration is not explicitly labelled as food-safe or food-contact compliant, it should not be assumed suitable for direct use on edible products.
This is why major supermarkets and reputable bakeries do not embed uncertified plastic toys into cakes sold to customers.
Budget and Legal Constraints: Safe Alternatives
Fondant figurines are more labour-intensive than plastic toys. However, they are designed specifically for edible environments and full compliance with food contact regulations.
If budgets do not allow for hand-modelled figures, edible printed artwork on icing sheets can achieve strong character impact without introducing non-food materials.
For customers commissioning detailed themed designs through our bespoke cake designs, we recommend edible modelling or printed icing artwork to ensure imaginative results that remain fully compliant with UK regulations.
If customers wish to use plastic toys at home, they may choose to place them onto the cake after purchase, ideally using a food-safe barrier. However, a commercial bakery cannot sell cakes with non-certified plastic items in direct contact with edible surfaces.
Our Bakery's Food Safety Policy
As a professional London and Surrey bakery operating under a 5-star food hygiene rating, we use only edible or certified food-safe materials in contact with our cakes.
Depending on budget and design, we create hand-modelled figurines or use edible printed icing artwork to bring themes to life safely. You can browse our full range of cake delivery across London and Surrey for celebrations that prioritise both creativity and compliance.
Beautiful cake design should delight — but it must also comply with food safety law. Responsible decoration ensures both.
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