New Law: Some Homemade Foods Allowed For Sale
By
Steve Milne
Thursday, December 27, 2012
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A ban on selling some kinds of homemade foods is about to be lifted in California.
State Democratic Assemblyman Mike Gatto of Los Angeles co-wrote the California Homemade Food Act which takes effect on January 1st.
"Up until now, people who wanted to turn their passion into a small business were faced with stifling red tape."
…including getting a commercial kitchen license.
Under the new law, you can make some types of food at home and
then sell it directly to people…and to stores and restaurants. The
food must be non-perishable and can't have any cream or meat
ingredients.
Gatto says the new law is designed to help boost small
entrepreneurs in the burgeoning cottage food industry.
Large scale food makers, he says, don't have to worry about
competition.
"If you make more than $50,000 a year selling products
then you have to graduate to the next level. So I don't think any
of these small producers are going to put the big guys out of
business because they're allowed to make their products at
home."
The law requires home food producers to complete a food
processor course.