Hi,

For an infant psychology experiment, I need two objects, which are
visually virtually indistinguishable, one of which can be eaten, and
one of which is safe for an infant to handle but is not edible. (The
experiment will involve the parents eating an object which the infant
believes it has previously handled, although it actually handled the
inedible version.)

Infant safe means the object is large enough not to present a choking
hazard to infants between 12 and 24 months, and is non-toxic (even if
chewed). Ideal size would be very roughly 4cm cube.

Edible means something which the majority of people would be happy to eat.

The objects should not be something which most infants are very familiar with.

Ideas I have had:

Joke sweets made out of rubber. Problems: finding an edible sweet
which looks the same; sweets are too small.

Some kind of plastinisation of an edible object. Problems: I have no
idea if this is possible, affordable, or if it produces non-toxic
objects.

I bet there are better ideas!

A correct answer will include either instructions for creating the
objects (able to be followed by someone without sophisticated tools or
expertise), the details of someone who can affordably create the
objects, or the details of suppliers who can affordably provide the
objects.

"Affordable" depends on the quality of the objects. For something
perfectly matching all my criterea I could pay around 400 dollars.

Cheers,

Ben

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 27 Jul 2006 08:20 PDT

Hi Amorphia,

Trengove Studios carries a great assortment of realistic fake food.
http://www.trengovestudios.com/food/food.shtml

For example:

The Croissant is not be something which most infants are very familiar
with, and it's affordable.
http://www.trengovestudios.com/food/food11.shtml

Cookies
http://www.trengovestudios.com/food/food12.shtml

Sushi
http://www.trengovestudios.com/food/food22.shtml

Let me know what you think.

Thanks, Bobbie7

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Clarification of Question by amorphia-ga on 27 Jul 2006 09:19 PDT

Hi there,

Thanks Bobbie, that's a long way in the right direction! I should have
been more specific about the required dimensions. The objects must fit
in my slightly oddly shaped box. I just measured it, and it's 12cm
long, with a cross-sectional shape of a D on its side, with base 10cm
and arc radius 3.5cm (made by cutting a tin can along a plane parallel
to and close to the axis). Apologies for the fact that my original
suggestion of a 4cm cube wouldn't have fitted!

That means the croissant probably wouldn't fit. The biscuits are
probably too familiar, and the sushi unfortunately not eaten by many
(and very impractical in the lab).

Many of the foods, such as the fruit, would be the right shape, but I
think just too familiar.

That is why I was mainly thinking of sweets originally (I think that's
candy in American) - because you can always find an obscure weird
looking one.

A really bizarre exotic fruit might do the trick (although most of the
Trengove one's are pretty standard) but remember the parents must be
willing to eat it, and I must be able to get hold of it.

Cheers,

Ben

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 27 Jul 2006 10:39 PDT

Ben, 

Thank you for your clarification.

How about the jelly candies or one of the other sweets on this page?

http://www.artificialfood.com/$spindb.query.listall3.tdview.186._-Artificial-Food-Candy/Cookies

Bobbie

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 27 Jul 2006 10:41 PDT

Swiss cheese wedge or a deviled egg?

http://www.artificialfood.com/$spindb.query.listall3.tdview.70._-Artificial-Food-Cheese-&-Eggs

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 27 Jul 2006 10:48 PDT

Ben, 

I believe I found a suitable item.

Kiwi!

Check out the kiwi half, the kiwi slice and the kiwi pieces on this page.

http://www.barnardltd.com/$spindb.query.listall3.tdview.73

The RAMBUTAN also looks interesting.

Hello again Ben,

>A really bizarre exotic fruit might do the trick (although most of
the Trengove one's are pretty standard) but remember the parents must
be willing to eat it, and I must be able to get hold of it.<

After further research I believe kiwi is the right fruit. It?s exotic
enough and parents would be willing to eat it. It?s also not hard to
obtain.

Amazing Produce claims to have the most complete collection of
artificial fruit and vegetables on the Internet.
http://www.amazingproduce.com/DetailsList.cfm?ID=VPK915-GR

Kiwi wedges
http://www.amazingproduce.com/DetailsList.cfm?ID=VPK915-GR

Kiwi half, kiwi slice and kiwi pieces 
http://www.barnardltd.com/$spindb.query.listall3.tdview.73

Other good alternatives:

Mango
http://www.amazingproduce.com/DetailsList.cfm?ID=UZV523-OR-YE

Rambutan Fruit in Bag http://www.amazingproduce.com/DetailsList.cfm?ID=VAR863-RE



Iwasaki Images of America also carried a huge assortment of replica foot and fruit.
http://iwasaki-images.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

Perhaps a fig
http://iwasaki-images.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_10


Fax Foods carries tropical fruits

Perhaps Guava, Passion Fruit, or a small Star Fruit
http://www.faxfoods.com/replica_foods/tropical_fruits.html

They have ready-made dessert selections from Sweet Street, jon
Donaire, Sara Lee, Upper Crust and many others. Items Sold Separately
http://www.faxfoods.com/contents/dessert_trays.html


A huge selection of artificial food is available here:
http://www.leeleescreations.shoppingcartsplus.com/page/page/440720.htm


Jelly candies and other sweets 
http://www.artificialfood.com/$spindb.query.listall3.tdview.186._-Artificial-Food-Candy/Cookies

Swiss cheese wedge or a deviled egg
http://www.artificialfood.com/$spindb.query.listall3.tdview.70._-Artificial-Food-Cheese-&-Eggs
 


Search terms:
Artificial OR fake OR replica food OR fruit OR candy 


I hope the information provided is helpful!

Best regards,
Bobbie7

Thanks for the answer. A very thorough exploration of the plastic prop
approach. I was perhaps hoping for a little more "outside the box"
thinking - most of the plastic items will be either difficult to get
an easy supply of edible equivalents for, or else are too familiar to
children. But the question got answered.

Thanks to the rest of you for comments!

I'm thinking some sort of cheese might work. But then again it's past
lunchtime and I'm peckish.

You could use Playdoh as the inedible object. Let it go hard by
leaving it out of the container after moulding it to the shape you
want.

You can make Playdoh at home, use food colouring to colour it.

I can't remember the recipe right now. I think it involves Plain
Flour, Water and Cooking/Olive Oil. I think there may be a recipe that
involves cooking it as well.

Cheers