Businesswoman sold 'edible' cupcake glitter made from shredded plastic and powdered brass - and insisted it was safe despite repeated warnings

• Margaret Martin duped cake businesses into buying the fake 'edible' glitter
• Despite being marketed as edible decoration, it was made from plastic
• Martin claimed she named her business EdAble Art Ltd after three animated mice characters called Ed, Able and Art
• Leeds Magistrates' Court ordered her to pay £13,515 in costs and fines
  

By EMMA GLANFIELD

PUBLISHED: 17:21 GMT, 13 March 2014 | UPDATED: 21:20 GMT, 13 March 2014

A businesswoman whose company sold ‘edible’ cupcake glitter which was made from shredded plastic has been ordered to pay more than £13,000 in fines and court costs. 

Margaret Martin's business EdAble Art Ltd, which she claims is named after three animated mice characters called Ed, Able and Art, marketed the dodgy sparkle as an edible decoration when in fact it was made from plastic normally used for drinks bottles.

Leeds Magistrates' Court in West Yorkshire heard that she sold the glitter, which is meant for use on greetings cards, to sugar craft suppliers and cake shops in such a way it made them believe it was suitable for consumption.

She misled a cake business into believing her products could be eaten and as a result the cake business produced glittered cupcakes coated with the tiny pieces of shredded plastic and sold them to the public, the court was told.

Trading Standards warned the plastic material used for the glitter was not edible and was manufactured as craft material. It has a chemical name of polyethylene terephthalate.

The effect on the human digestive system is unknown but the glitter should not be eaten.

On Monday, the court imposed a total of £13,515 in fines and court costs on both Martin personally and her business.

The court fined EdAble Art Ltd a total of £3,500, ordered an additional £8,000 was paid in court costs, as well as a £15 victim surcharge.

In addition, Martin was personally handed a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £2,000 in court costs.

FULL STORY: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2580168/Businesswoman-sold-...