the top looks like edible gold flakes
http://www.ediblegold.co.uk/product_desc.php?id=2234
the bottom one looks like gelatin sequins
http://confessionsofascratchbaker.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-first-tutorialgelatin-sequins.html
the gold flakes are edible because they are non reactive and pass through our system, however, i don't imagine it's "good eats" and might have to be removed before serving.
These are called sequin cakes and are the trend for 2014. I have looked closer to other pictures and its tiny discs cut out of paste stuck on then coloured - suppose you could use variations of golds to get a sequin finish with dusts and sheens to obtain the glow. The photos have been taken in a studio so assume plenty of light and computer touching up.
...And the first one, in my opinion as a crafter, appears to be a dummy cake decorated with standard craft glitter. Gold leaf is much smoother. This one has too much texture and just looks like glitter to me.
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