Bake sales exempted from health rules
People who prepare food at home for bake sales or community events on P.E.I. will now be exempt from provincial food licensing regulations.
Baked goods were identified as low-risk foods, says Health Minister Carolyn Bertram. (CBC)
Concerns were raised about the regulations following a story by CBC News last week.
At the time, P.E.I. environmental health officials said technically, everyone who sells baked goods to the public should have their kitchens inspected and approved by the province. Tuesday in the legislature Health Minister Carolyn Bertram said the rules would no longer apply to those who cook for bake and craft sales and other non-commercial events.
"We've just identified low-risk foods, a lot of those happen to be cookies and baked goods or jellies and jams which have natural preservatives within," said Bertram.
"We still will require, because of public health risk, for those [preparing] higher risk foods to come forward and contact our environmental health office."
Higher risk foods that would still be included under the legislation would include those containing meat or dairy products.
Bertram said the changes were made because of the fundraising and community spirit associated with these events.
Some craft sale organizers on the Island had seen a decline recently in the amount of baked goods available at local events.
Phew - common sense prevails!
