Bake sales are getting more serious.
Home picklers and bakers of brownies with a pH value of 4.6 or lower will have something to celebrate if a cross-section of Democrats and Republicans in the state legislature – let’s call them the Canning Coalition – pass a bill reducing oversight of their activities. Normally, someone who cans vegetables and other perishables at home, or makes foods that qualify as “nonhazardous baked goods” (see above: moisture content is also a factor), must obtain a license to operate as a food processing plant, if he or she plans to sell the stuff. An exception already exists for farmer’s markets and social events, and the bill would expand it to include all face-to-face sales, so long as yearly revenue stays below $10,000. In short, you’d still need a license for mail-order (or online) sales, but if you’d like to setup a stand in your driveway for strawberry preserves and/or cookies with a water activity value of 0.85 or less – go right ahead!
The bill was introduced in 2013, and a vote is expected in the state Senate sometime today.
The Milwaukee-area legislators behind it include State Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend), who’s also active on the raw milk front, State Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) and State Rep. Jim Ott (R-Mequon).
(image via Shutterstock)
