About half the states have adopted so-called “Food Freedom” laws in the past few years. These laws generally recognize the right of individuals to produce and sell homemade foods without much regulation or concern about food safety. Only the contact information of the producer, ingredients in the product, and a
Continue Reading Former food safety officer fighting Montana’s ‘Food Freedom’ embrace
— OPINION —
I was excited last week when Doug Farquhar, the National Environmental Health Association’s government affairs director, presented the final report on State Legislative actions for 2024.
I want to take the opportunity to point out a couple of things from that report.
Doug has been kind enough
Continue Reading A look back at the trends in state legislatures this year
Editor’s Note: Thirty years ago, hundreds of reporters were assigned to cover State Legislatures, and competing wire services tracked everything. Today’s corporate entertainment media sees all that as an unnecessary expense, and state legislative coverage has become thin to zero.
That makes it a real challenge for those of us
Continue Reading The Farquhar report on 2024 state Legislative food safety actions
The Colorado General Assembly has its own routines. One allows a bill to change its spots.
Take SB24-026, for example. It was one of the first bills heard during the current legislative session about “accountability and food freedom.”
It was heard by the Senate Agriculture and Natural Committee on Jan.
Continue Reading The subject of Colorado’s ‘Food Freedom’ bill has been changed entirely
Montana’s First Judicial District Court is being asked to review the state Legislature’s “Food Freedom” bills enacted in 2021 and 2023. The legislation is known as the “Montana Local Food Choice Act.”
The legal action challenging the law was brought by Helena, MT, resident Jeffrey P. Havens, who, from 2012
Continue Reading Montana’s new “Food Freedom” Act may violate the state’s constitution
— OPINION —
When do dark kitchens need the sanitizing light of local consumer safety oversight?
Never, according to Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, Republican, and Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson. This is the clear message sent to the public when Gianforte signed Hertz’s myopicaly negligent homemade food bill into law May 2 (Senate Bill
Continue Reading Montana: Keep dark kitchens in the light
Most state legislatures are in session, but it’s too early to know if it’s going to be a good year for food safety. The Institute for Justice, a non-profit law firm for protecting constitutional rights, is out with its Baking Bad survey of state laws that allow the sale of
Continue Reading Baking Bad survey of state laws charts homemade food options in 50 states
Like taking a new car in for repairs while it is still under warranty, the Montana Local Food Choice Act of 2021 will be getting renewed attention during the 2023 legislative session in Helena. But the 2023 Senate Bill 202 at this point does little more than prohibit local boards
Continue Reading Food safety expert says Montana’s ‘Food Freedom’ law puts public in danger
The first amendments in six years to Wyoming’s much-cited Food Freedom Act are now pending with the Legislature in Cheyenne.
Senate File (SF) No. 102 is sponsored by Senators Salazar, Barlow, Biteman, Boner, Driskill, Hutchings, and Steinmetz and Representatives Neiman, Ottman, Penn, and Somers. As the prime sponsor, Sen. Tim
Continue Reading Wyoming bill would add ‘designated agent’ role to Food Freedom Act
Fewer restrictions on raw milk sales and so-called “Food Freedom” bills have been popular in Statehouses for more than a decade now. And while these do not always break across partisan lines, it can be said they’ve been more popular since Republicans came to dominate state legislatures.
The change occurred
Continue Reading After the midterms, state food safety remains more in the hands of the GOP