According to an article in the Chicago Tribune Business Section March 23, 2011, Cottage Baking Laws could possibly be changing. Senator David Koehler is spear heading SB137 so that kitchen bakers and hobbyist could start selling items such as cookies, jams, jellies, and dried herbs at farmers markets and other community events.

If this senate bill passes as is, it would still be necessary to have a sanitantion management certificate but not a licensed kitchen. Food goods would have to be labeled with the name and address of the maker, the products name, ingredients and date it was processed. There would also have to be a warning on the label stating that the product is homemade and not subject to state inspection.

Granted, this law is not as good as some other states but for Illinois, this may only be the beginning! So what am I asking? All of you Illinois bakers, please call your senators and have them vote YES to SB 137!!!!