December 31, 2003 -- NEWS RELEASE -- State Representative Al Juhnke
rep.al.juhnke@house.mn
281 State Office Building,
St. Paul, MN 55155
651/296-6206
3951 Horizon Hills Circle, Willmar, MN 56201
320/235-4442
JUHNKE: CAN THE FINES ON HOME VEGETABLE CANNERS
After a vendor at a local farmers' market was threatened with a $5,000 fine for attempting to sell pickles made in his own kitchen, Rep. Al Juhnke has drafted legislation to exempt makers of homemade pickles and other canned vegetables from state regulation.
"I'm as interested in food safety as anyone, but this kind of heavy-handed enforcement is ludicrous," Juhnke, of Willmar, said. "I'm hopeful this bill will get broad bipartisan support - even
from people like me who don't like pickles - and quick action when the Legislature returns to session."
The bill's story began when an inspector from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture came through an area farmers' market and ordered a vendor to stop selling his homemade pickles. The vendor contacted Juhnke, who contacted the department for an explanation.
"They blamed it on 9-11," Juhnke said. "They were cracking down because toxins like botulism, which can be used in bioterrorism, could be spread through home canned goods. I found that a bit
far-fetched, to say the least."
At Juhnke's request, the state Agriculture and Health Departments searched their records for cases of botulism poisoning linked to homemade pickles - and could not find a single such instance.
Juhnke's bill would remove the kitchen inspection and licensing requirements for anyone who sells less than $5,000 a year in home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits at a community or social
event, farmers' market, roadside stand or similar venue. Sellers must post a small sign reading "These canned goods are homemade and not subject to state inspection" and label the jars with their name, address and the date on which the goods were put up. That protects consumers in case a bad jar slips through.
"Your own eyes and nose are the best food inspectors," Juhnke said. "If it doesn't look right or smell right, don't eat it. And don't buy any pickles from Osama bin Laden."
The new measure is similar to one Juhnke passed three years ago that exempted homemade foods brought to community social events from food inspection requirements. That "hotdish bill" was quickly enacted and there appear to have been no ill effects on Minnesotans, except for some weight gain.
"As with the hotdish bill, we'd just as soon keep the food inspectors out of our church basements," Juhnke said.
