20/08/2026
Let’s talk about allergens. All my “normal” cakes contain eggs, dairy and gluten. The cake in this photo is a vanilla cake with black cherry conserve, vanilla buttercream, Opies cherries in kirsch and fresh cherries on top. Most chocolate decorations contain soya (including those I make from premium quality Couverture chocolate), but these sprinkles don’t have it as an ingredient. So you’d think we’ve just got eggs, dairy and gluten here, right?
As part of my food safety practices, I take all possible steps to avoid cross-contamination in my kitchen. This said, despite washing my hands so often that I no longer have a readable fingerprint to open my devices (true fact), I work with butter so much that I cannot guarantee that any of my baking (even vegan bakes) can be 100% free from traces. I am similarly cautious regarding the most severe egg and gluten allergies. However, I am not fully in control: the label on these and many other sprinkles says that they are manufactured on equipment that produces products containing milk, gluten, fish, soya, nuts and peanuts. Opies cherries now carry a warning saying they are not suitable for walnut allergy sufferers. I’m even conscious that the organic flour I use cannot possibly be 100% guaranteed to be free from other traces of other seeds and proteins which may have been airborne in the fields (although the labels do not carry a warning).
So. I REALLY try to help accommodate people with allergies: I want to make as many people happy as I can! But it’s not simple. It is essential that you communicate ALL allergies with me clearly at the start of each order process and - if it’s been a convoluted one (not pointing fingers at anybody in particular but some people take more emails than others to finalise…) - again at the final order summary stage. I will always be honest with you about what I can guarantee and where my limitations lie. But if I don’t know you are allergic to walnuts, I can’t tell you that Opies cherries could kill you: I would never have thought it either 🤷♀️ I’m interested to know your thoughts? 👂
