What's involved in getting certified? Can one get a typical private kitchen certified for some small fee and be on their way? Did the state consider the low volume non-retail nature of private food production when formulating their regulations? Does this apply to lemonade stands and potlucks as well?

Posted by parklife on April 21, 2009 at 11:39 AM Suggest Removal

This totally infuriates me.

Posted by Priscilla on April 21, 2009 at 1:56 PM Suggest Removal

Parklife, in order to be certified in Champaign County a kitchen must have a three-compartment sink with three-foot drainboards on either side. Needless to say not something most home kitchens have and installation would be a very large expensive for these small time bakers.

Also, according to Lisa Bralts, market director, the CUPHD did NOT contact her to inform her of the changes. She found out through a vendor and then had to contact them herself find out what the new guidelines where. Seems like she would have been a good person to interview for this article.

Posted by cconner on April 21, 2009 at 2:46 PM Suggest Removal

This is ridiculous. Enough Government meddling in our lives please ~ are we sure the Public Health department doesn't want to inspect our next home dinner party? What next.

Posted by luckycap on April 21, 2009 at 2:51 PM Suggest Removal

Great news in tough economic times right before the market opens! Imagine the vendors that depend on that for their budget. Renting commercial kitchens around town is not as simple as the CUPHD guys makes it sound. I've tried and it is tough. Plus, for some of them, the rental fee would completely eat up whatever profit one makes at the market.

Posted by avieira on April 21, 2009 at 2:54 PM Suggest Removal

Thanks cconner, that's what I suspected.

I find it interesting that CUPHD's recent concern with private kitchens stems from foodborne outbreaks originating from a state inspected commercial manufacturing plant and a CUPHD certified kitchen. It's good CUPHD is standardizing on state law, but I would argue that the current law allows these sales. How does "less than 14 continuous days of consecutive operation" not fit with the one-day-a-week schedule of the market? Could the vendor take off every 14th market day and comply? I guess we need to know how the law defines "continuous day" and "consecutive operation".

Posted by parklife on April 21, 2009 at 5:12 PM Suggest Removal

The state of Illinois made the law. However, the state allows for individual counties and cities to pass ordinances that allow for home made baked goods, to be made and sold from a private home kitchen. There are other counties such as Coles and Randolph that allow for baked goods to be made in a home kitchen and those county health inspectors inspect those home kitchens. They do not allow for canning, meats, or anything cream filled. The city of Danville used to allow home kitchen baked goods until they turned over inspections to the Vermilion County Health Dept. which will not allow it, stating the Illinois State Law as the reason. Danville will not pass an ordinance because it does not have the money or man power to regulate the home kitchen. But, in the Champaign Urbana area where there is more city cash flow this could be done. I say BOO to CUPHD for being followers of Vermilion County. The overhead for starting a small baking business in a seperate location is high, and renting someone elses approved kitchen is not possible in most cases because of the cost. Again the State of Illinois says that it allows for Cities and Counties to pass there own ordinances in allowing for home kitchens. The Coles County Health Department is proof of the fact that it can be done legally and managed properly.

Posted by mmon1247 on April 21, 2009 at 6:54 PM Suggest Removal

Sure, pick on the little guy. If it's up to the local gov'ts, why not make the necessary changes to allow for these people to provide what we want? I for one will make sure to spread the news and suggest we all boycott the big companies that sell there (i already do by virtue of buying from the little guys.) they make the better baked goods by far. In the time of everyone struggling for work, help those who already have a foothold, don't tear out the rug.

Posted by carguy on April 21, 2009 at 10:32 PM Suggest Removal

I encourage anyone that is passionate about this issue to email Mr. Roberts at jroberts@cuphd.org. Better yet, join others upset about the issue at the next Champaign County Board of Health meeting on April 28 at 6PM at the Brookens Center.

Posted by cconner on April 22, 2009 at 6:01 AM Suggest Removal

I agree with the comments posted by parklife on April 21, 2009 at 5:12 PM.

For a government agent to cite two instances of government agency incompetence and negligence as justification for imposing more government agency control in the absence of any evidence of the existence of a problem having existed previously in the area the agency has now decided to control is absurd.

I do hope that the City of Urbana will quickly pass an ordinance to defang the CUPHD with respect to the farmers market. Failing that I wonder what would happen if 100 or more people were to show up with a single home baked muffin and sell if to someone for 5 cents while local TV stations record the event for the evening news.

Posted by dales on April 22, 2009 at 11:00 AM Suggest Removal