Hamilton City Hall is backing away from its crackdown on homemade cookies, squares and other goodies at local events after clarifying the rules with the province. All bake sales by churches, service clubs and fraternal organizations will now be exempt from food safety regulations no matter the location.
Good news for Mary Whitwell, who will be able to continue her nearly 60- year tradition of baking for the Binbrook Fair. The 82-year-old was left shaking her head when the city's public health inspectors objected to her church's table at last year's fair.
Local officials had interpreted provincial regulations to mean that bake sales were only exempt from the rules if held on-site at a church, service club or fraternal organization. Once they moved to an off-site location, like a community fair or mall sale, the food would have to be made in an inspected kitchen. That raised the ire of more than one grandmother who'd been baking in her own kitchen for decades.
The city has since contacted the province for clarification and found the most recent interpretation is to exempt both on- and off-site bake sales. This left many city councilors with milk stashes on their face as they quickly saw the merritt in the new ruling.
That brings a close to this case. Hamiltonians can once again enjoy their favourite sweets at the many area fairs and bake sales without the stress and worry that they could be partaking in a crime! The city needs to worry about the 'junk' on the street and leave our 'junk food' alone.
my original post on this story
Later,
Kenaz
