We used fake food all the time in product photography. I could tell you stories about motor oil (to simulate syrup), lucite ice, agar or glycerine "dew drops"

We used fake food all the time in product photography. I could tell you stories about motor oil (to simulate syrup), lucite ice, agar or glycerine "dew drops" or the shine of "fat" on grilled meats, shaving cream (to simulate whipped cream), acrylic soups, and so on. I could also tell the story of when an intern accidentally overdid the CO2 (to "reactivate" a drink), and sprayed a big glass of warm, flat cola onto a $40k Linhof 4x5 camera/lens. Yeah, that intern was me on my first day.