Real Feathers: Should You?...would You?...do You?...
Decorating By Coral3 Updated 23 Feb 2011 , 4:07am by Elcee
Something I've wondered...what do people treat feathers with before they stick them into cakes? Do they even treat them with anything? Is it safe?...I mean, we all know that birds carry salmonella - is it possible that the feathers could contaminate a cake? Lately there seem to be more and more real feathers popping up out of cakes, and I can't help but feel slightly grossed-out, even though looks-wise they can be fabulous. Thoughts?...
Funny you should ask. A bride today asked about adding ostrich feathers to a cake. The idea kind of grossed me out too. It made me think about eating cake and pulling a feather out of your mouth because you didn't realize it was there. Like a yucky hair! EWWW!
I am going to suggest they have the feathers on the stand. They would make an awesome display gluded to a fabric covered styrofoam dummy.
I suppose you could wrap the ends in something to place them in a cake. I bet a fresh flower water pick holder would hold a feather. It would still creep me out with the thought of part of a feather "sneaking" its way into the icing. 
No. I would not use real feathers or even fake feathers on a cake. I agree that they can look really beautiful but it just seems yucky to me. I am a stickler for everything being edible that touches the cake though, so if it were me, I would make the feathers out of fondant, yes it is possible!
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