Ridiculous Law in Florida Prevents Selling of Homemade Baked Goods
In this day and age of seemingly unrelenting unemployment, many folks strive to find a way to earn some type of living. One way in which some are trying to work for a living is to make homemade baked goods and sell them. Seems simple enough and frankly there are some people who have a real knack for it.
Photo by clevercupcakes
As a Florida resident since 1983, this actually comes as a surprise to me. After all, who at some point has not participated in a bake sale at their office or a bake sale at their children’s school or even a church bake sale? I know that I have purchased and enjoyed many homemade baked goods over the years and never once suspected that I was participating in an illegal activity.
How horrifying to think that the nice neighbor who baked the most scrumptious brownies ever and sold them to me was nothing more than a law breaking criminal. Gee, maybe the State of Florida will start busting down the doors of these illegal enterprises (that are not cooking Meth in their kitchens), but rather cute little cupcakes for the bake sale at their child’s school.
Granted, if someone were to make a business out of baking and selling homemade goodies, the general population would still need to be protected from these baked goods being made in unclean conditions. Not everyone knows the meaning of consideration, safety and hygiene, even in their own kitchens. No one wants Mr. or Mrs. Cupcake Maker licking the spoon that they mix the batter with and double dipping back in the bowl, licking their fingers, not washing their hands, not using clean work areas, etc. Obviously, a home kitchen area would need to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and free of bugs and rodents. No one wants Rizzo the Rat having a taste of their cupcake first.
Whether any of us want to admit it (or think about it), this type of unsavory stuff happens in restaurants more than we realize. This is why a health inspector regularly checks establishments for cleanliness and safety. These same rules could apply to people that want to run such a business out of their homes. Simply send the health inspector to inspect, but don’t prevent people from trying to make an honest living.
It’s too bad that the government cannot see that there ARE people that DO want to work and don’t sit at home merely being lazy. This law in Florida is absolutely ridiculous and needs to be changed. The unemployment situation leaves some people with few options for earning an income. Why kick someone down that has the entrepreneurial spirit and wants to succeed in life? Come on Florida lawmakers, there are REAL crimes being committed everyday. Go after the REAL criminals in society and HELP the law-abiding citizens prosper and succeed in their lives.
It might just be a win-win for everyone.
Source: Ellen McNamara, “Woman hopes state will enact Cottage Food Act to help Floridians that want to bake and sell items”, ABCActionNews.com
