http://www.myfrugallifestyle.blogspot.com

Thanks for the info. I was not aware. I guess I was thinking of a very small operation, so it probably wouldn't come to anyone's attention. Still, it's good to read up on the law around you, and there's very little point in skirting the law. Usually, it's more trouble than it's worth.

You can, of course, take the risk and operate illegally. If that is the case, one would need to be very careful how one advertised such a service and keep only very trustworthy clients, knowing that they could blackmail you or outright sue you — especially if anything happened like food poisoning (or if they just get ticked at you for some stupid little thing). People *do* run into trouble with this sort of thing. And, like any business, there's also the tax man to worry about if you're not good about that sort of thing.

So, I'm not sure that I would feel comfortable with that or some other at-home businesses. And no matter what you choose, read up on the law because when you're in debt you don't want to risk being sued.

And yes, I think it's a sad, sad state of affairs where a neighbor can't sell home-baked bread to their neighbors. Regulations seem to help the big corporations remove competition from the little guy who is less likely to cause massive damage and is more likely to be responsible because he/she has neighbors with pitchforks and torches to worry about should they be found to be doing something sleazy.

Read The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved for more info on the topic. But warning, it may make you cry when you realize how little "freedom" we have when it comes to our food in the U.S.