Topic: Pickle-Packer Bill
started by: Liberal
Posted by Liberal on Mar. 06 2004,10:53 pm
There is this teacher up in the Wilmar area that was selling home canned pickles at a farmers market. A state inspector came up to him and said something like "Hey you can't sell pickles at a farmers market, haven't you ever heard of botulism?" The teacher had never heard of this but since the inspector was threatening him with a $5K fine he decided to quit selling them.Later on he contacts his state rep to see why he can't sell his pickles. His state rep is Juhnke the fella that had just fought over the hot dish bill (big fan of the homecooking I guess) and since Juhnke doesn't know the answer he calls up to the state to see how there could be such a law.
Apparently he gets the dumbest person in St. Paul on the line and the guy in St. Paul tells him it's a new law enacted after 9-11 over fears of bio terrorism. And acting on this misinformation Juhnke decides to get rid of this ridiculous law.
After a veterinarian in the Department of Agriculture's food inspection program later straightens him out and tells him that the ban on sale of home-processed pickles and other vegetables has been on the books for many years and is not related to recent terrorism fears and that it exists because of risks of botulism a rare but deadly form of food poisoning he checks with the state Agriculture and Health Departments and asks if anyone has ever gotten botulism from pickles and they tell him not according to their records. Even though there is a case in the not so distant past where a Minnesota woman tasted the juice in a jar of pickled carrots to see if they had spoiled and ended up in the hospital for 8 months from botulism.
The Pickle-Packer bill passed through the house the other day attached to another bill and now it's on it's way to the senate.
Some of the better quotes from the Botulism Bill press release are.
| Quote |
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. < House Passes Juhnkes Pickle-Packer Bill > |
Now if this magic label can protect us from the occasional bad jar that slips through then what do we even need the USDA for? Let's just put these magic consumer protection stickers on everything and we'll have no worries if the occasional bad product slips through.
| Quote |
The agency says it’s cracking down on toxins like botulism, which can be used in bioterrorism,” Juhnke said. “I suggest people not buy pickles from Osama bin Laden. Otherwise, you’re safe.” |
I wonder if it's safe to buy a jar from Osama if he puts one of those magic stickers on it?
| Quote |
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 |
I wonder if that is $5K net or Gross
| Quote |
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. |
three whole years without any ill effects... How can anyone argue with a track record like that?
Posted by Frustrated on Mar. 08 2004,10:07 am
Excellent post, Liberal.
Posted by MrTarzan on Mar. 08 2004,4:07 pm
More proof that the legislature is being dreaming up things to keep itself busy so they can stay in session more and more. The best thing they could do is meet less.
Posted by jimhanson on Mar. 08 2004,4:26 pm
"NO MAN'S PURSE IS SAFE WHILE THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION!" Mark Twain 
Posted by Liberal on Mar. 08 2004,4:41 pm
It just doesn't make sense to hold a professional packer like Gedney or Vlasic to a higher standard than you would someone that does it for a hobby in their kitchen. And if a magic sticker can protect me from a bad pickle why does it suddenly quit working when the packer hits the $5000 mark ?
Posted by Nose for News on Mar. 08 2004,9:16 pm
PICKLE BILL MOVIN' ONMarch 8 2004
The House passed the pickle bill Thursday.
The measure, passed as an amendment to a related bill, secures Minnesotans' right to sell home-canned pickles.
The issue: Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar, brought up the issue early this year after farmers told him state health officials had banned the sale of homemade pickles. State officials had said that badly sterilized home-canned pickles could cause botulism.
House members dismissed those concerns on the House floor. Rep. Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, said folks have been eating home-canned pickles forever — without problems. "Your parents, my grandmas, you name it, have been canning pickles for decades and centuries," he said. "We're just saying grandma doesn't have to have the inspector come into her kitchen."
The measure would exempt from state inspection those who make less than $5,000 a year from the sale of home-processed foods. In exchange, it would require those pickle sellers to display signs when they sell their pickles that reads, "These canned goods are homemade and not subject to state inspection."
Next steps: The bill now goes to the Senate.
More information: The bill, HF1864, is online at < http://www.leg.state.mn.us. >
Posted by Montyman on Mar. 08 2004,9:24 pm
Check out HF2168 guys.
Posted by Nose for News on Mar. 08 2004,10:56 pm
Pickle Bill Introduced by DillNo Kidding
Juhnke, Dorman, Seifert, Dill, Otremba and Finstad introduced: Feb 4 2004
H. F. 1864, A bill for an act relating to food safety; authorizing the sale of certain home-canned foods at farmers' markets and similar venues; requiring a disclosure statement and labeling; amending Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 28A.15, by adding a subdivision.
Posted by sick of it on Mar. 09 2004,6:25 pm
| Quote (Nose for News @ Mar. 08 2004,9:16:pm) |
| PICKLE BILL MOVIN' ON Rep. Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, said folks have been eating home-canned pickles forever — without problems. "Your parents, my grandmas, you name it, have been canning pickles for decades and centuries," he said. "We're just saying grandma doesn't have to have the inspector come into her kitchen." |
oh christ almighty!
could that statement be any more dumb they were making small batches of pickles for thier own use not mass production for sale to the public
Posted by Madd Max on Mar. 10 2004,10:21 pm
Let me get this right Repdan sign on to this bill to make produceres at Farmers markets put lables in things Like canned Pickles? what's next Jelly,Pies,Bread? Come on I thought Dan was for less goverment being involed in out daily lifes. How many people have died from eating pickle they bought from a Farmers market? 
Posted by repdan on Mar. 12 2004,7:29 pm
Maxx,I want them to be able to sell them at the Farmers market. That's the point of the bill. If you think they are not safe, don't buy them. It is odd that we have to get into this issue, but there were some small producers that were warned and told of a possible fine.