Posted: 06.28.2010

Food-safety laws are designed to keep the
public safe. But some lawmakers in Wisconsin and a few other states
say it's not reasonable to make people selling a few jars of jam at
a farmer's market follow the same rules as a big food companies.

Wisconsin lawmakers enacted the so-called Pickle Bill in
February. It allows small vendors to sell high-acid canned foods,
such as pickles and salsas, without a license.

Retiree Joan Arnold in Rudolph, Wis., says the new law lets her
make a little money selling jam. She says people like her can't
afford to build or rent the kind of commercial kitchens needed to
get a food processing license.

But health officials say they worry people could get sick from
foods make in kitchens that aren't inspected.
 

« back to news articles