Nothing quite sends the message of contempt better than a dessert to the face. So learned UK Business Secretary Lord Mandelson as he was met with a showering of green custard as he arrived for the British government’s low carbon economy summit (the incident is reported here by Sky News).

Activists from protest group Plane Stupid, who were protesting the approval of a third runway at Heathrow Airport, attacked the Mendelson as he stepped out of his car. Dessert attacks, while deliciously devious, are in fact more common than one might think. Pieing, as it’s called, was a staple of old slapstick comedy, but has been reclaimed as a political act of protests aimed to humiliate the target.

The Biotic Baking Brigade, an anonymous network of protestors, has done a sweet job of terrorizing the politically powerful, among them some Canadian politicos. Victims include former Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Alberta premier Ralph Klein, and Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion. Other have targets include Bill Gates, Ann Coulter, Bill Kristol, Ralph Nader, and Sylvester Stallone.

In terms of protest tactics, a pie to the face, or custard to the kisser, is only a notch above the pathetic practice of flinging flour and red paint (I’m looking at you PETA). But what should we say?  “Make cakes not war” has a sweet ring to it.