With Proper Care, Fake Foods For Display Props Can Last For Many Years and Still Look New and Fresh
The majority of people probably never give a thought as to how or why those luscious-looking concoctions on the dessert carts in fine restaurants look so fresh and delicious, regardless of the time of day. The answer is simple: they’re fake food, created using such care and precision, the fact that they’re fake is almost impossible to detect. And, although display foods may be somewhat costly, the price is unquestionably warranted because these display foods take hours to create, AND offer the businesses great props with amazing life expectancy. After all, is it even feasible that a real chocolate frosted cake, a swirl of whipped cream or an ice cream frappe could last the entire day being wheeled around on a dessert cart or sitting in a display case?
Although not created for actual consumption, display food props must still be approved by the Food and drug administration, since much of this type of product is made outside of the U.S. and may even contain lead-based paint and other toxic ingredients. Those made here generally contain safe plastics, foams, urethanes and similar components that pose no health dangers.
Because they do look good enough to eat, it is important that they can do no harm if ingested or even exhibited near real food since lead and other metals can leach out and contaminate food items around them. In addition, people, especially children, are apt to try to take a bite of these delicious-looking fakes, just to make sure they are not real so it’s important that merely handling them and subsequently putting one’s fingers in the mouth or eyes is not dangerous.
Fake foods for display props usually need to withstand difficult scenarios. When used in TV commercials or movies, for example, they are handled repeatedly, placed under hot lights and may be used over days or even weeks of filming and retakes. Those used for other purposes, in museums, or as live theater props, for instance, are expected to last even longer, and are often displayed under hot lights. Still others are used by salespeople where they may be taken from trade show to trade show or from one grocery store to another, shown at casino buffets, cruise ships or banquet halls. For these reasons, good display foods are designed to last indefinitely, and often do so for years.
Naturally, some precautions should be taken when caring for fake food. Long exposure to sunshine is discouraged, as is cleaning with strong chemical compounds or abrasives. They should be protected from extreme heat or cold or anything that might cause them to discolor. For the most part, however, these props will continue to serve their purpose and will maintain their appearance of mouth-watering freshness for as long as necessary, with just a minimum of sensible care.
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If you are interested in purchasing FDA-approved food props for your restaurant, grocery store, theater production, or home decor, author Stephen Daniels highly recommends Fancy Foods and Things. Their high-quality products are safe for use around real food, and will last for years and years because they are made of the best materials available.