In the last legislative session (State of Indiana), an exemption was added for home-based processing of products that are not “potentially hazardous food products” and are sold at a farmers market or roadside stands (see statute below). The link below is guidance from the Indiana State Department of Health regarding this exemption:
http://www.in.gov/isdh/files/HEA_1309_guidance_final_6_11_09.pdf
If you have further questions, I would recommend contacting the Indiana State Department of Health, Division of Food Protection. Their main phone number is 317/233-7360 and email is food@isdh.in.gov.
How is this important to bakers? A number of bakeries have closed in recent months and a number of pastry chefs/bakers are losing their jobs. If you are interested in starting a home-based bakery there are 13 states that have "cottage laws" which allow state citizens to bake from home and sell to the public for profit.
The state of Alabama passed a "cottage law" on April 21, 2009 so bakers can now start a home-based bakery in AL.
Hoping bakers who need to...will take advantage of this...I am available to answer questions about home food processing, I teach (How to Operate a Home-Based Bakery face-to-face/nationwide) for Wake County Public School System Lifelong Learning in Raleigh NC...North Carolina is also a home-based baking state.
To learn more about operating a home-based bakery visit http://cookingwithdenay.com/Buttermilk Coconut Pie.jpg
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