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John Ferrera (916) 319-2043
September 21, 2012 after
hours: (916) 402-8900
Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s Closely Watched
California Homemade Food Act Signed into Law
Sacramento, CA – Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s (D-Los Angeles) Assembly Bill (AB) 1616, the
California Homemade Food Act, was signed into law today. The California
Homemade Food Act legalizes the sale of homemade, “non-potentially hazardous”
foods by creating a two-tier system of “cottage food operations” based upon the
point of sale. Having captured the imagination of food lovers in California and
beyond, AB 1616 was among the most anticipated bills to
be considered by the Governor this year.
The Assemblyman made a
commitment to helping aspiring micro-entrepreneurs start their businesses by
improving access to locally produced, artisan foods after his constituent, Mark
Stambler, was shut down by the Los Angeles Department of Environmental Health
for selling his homemade, brick-oven breads to a neighborhood cheese shop. “I
am proud to have delivered this victory to my constituents and to aspiring
business owners throughout the state that are looking for ways to develop their
businesses and purchase healthier, more locally produced foods for their
families.”
Prior to the California Homemade Food Act, outdated statutes and local
ordinances strictly prohibited everyone from home-based, artisanal bread bakers
to small-scale, jam and preserve vendors from selling their products. Now,
cottage food producers will be permitted to produce and sell every-day
foods such as breads, tortillas, dry roasted nuts and legumes, cookies, granola,
churros, jams, jellies and other fruit preserves to their communities. Producers
choosing to sell directly to consumers will register with the local health
department, and those choosing to sell to local retail shops, such as the
neighborhood coffee shop or corner store, will be subject to initial inspection
and permitting by the local health department. All producers will also be
required to complete a food processor course, verify that the home kitchen
meets specific standards, and disclose on the product label that the product
was made in a home kitchen.
“Providing people with the
opportunity to make and sell these foods directly to their neighbors at the
local farmer’s market or through the specialty shop up around the corner is a
matter of access to opportunity,” said Gatto. “I am happy that the Governor has
joined me in my efforts to restore economic activity to our neighborhood
economies and to the state of California by allowing people to produce and
healthy, nutritious or culturally relevant foods in their homes.”
The California Homemade Food
Act is consistent with similar laws of at least 33 other states, none of which
have reported a food-borne illness from non-potentially hazardous foods. The
legislation contains numerous provisions that will ensure cottage food
operations remain small-scale, neighborhood-based activities that respect the
importance of public health. More than 6,000 people throughout the state, as
well as small and large business, non-profit, and interest organizations such
as the Lost Angeles Bread Bakers, the Sustainable Economies Law Center, Whole
Foods Market Northern California, the California State Grange and the City of
Los Angeles, expressed support to the Governor.
“This is a huge win for food
for food makers like Mark, stay-at-home parents, culinary enthusiasts, job
seekers and all those who want to know where their foods come,” commented
Gatto. “I am proud to have created a legal structure for the safe, in-home
production of particular foods that respects the importance of public health but
that will spark more economic activity in our local economies and in
California.”
Get “Behind the Bill” and hear the story of the
California Homemade Food Act in this Assembly Access Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnS_gqTIdAE&feature=youtu.be
Mike Gatto
represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and parts of Los Angeles, including
Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and Atwater Village. He is the Chairman of the
Assembly Appropriations Committee. www.asm.ca.gov/gatto
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