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Ontario, Canada Regulations - Home Bakery - Page 2

post #16 of 78
2/20/09 at 8:22am
here is what I was told: my kitchen would no way meet the standards or guidelines set by Ottawa health inspectors, as I needed to have a seperate sink, seperater refrigeration, seperate food storage + none of my home items (bowls, cupboards etc) could be used for the business everything had to be seperate. I was also told that if I didn't advertise the fact that I was selling cakes (to friends & families) they weren't going to hunt me down. That being said, it leaves me in a tight spot as I can't buy wholesale, have a vendors permit, go to cake/wedding shows, deal with hotels or wedding organisers or have contacts withing the business community. Right now, everything I have done & sold has been thru friends and family.
Very frustrating. icon_mad.gif
BAZINGA ~ Dr. Sheldon Cooper
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post #17 of 78
2/20/09 at 8:32am
I live near Brockville, ON, and sell cakes from my home. Not many cakes, but I do sell them. I have spoken with my area health inspector who has told me that bakery products from home kitchens are not regulated by the health unit. I have also inquired about catering (since I plan to cater as well) and was told that as long as the party has invited guests and is not just open to the public, that I could cook anywhere I wanted to. Scary, but true.
I was told a couple of years ago that there were plans underway to regulate baking from home, but it still is not in effect according to the HI I spoke with this Summer.
Mom of 3 busy boys:
Finn 7
Ronan 5
Eamon 3
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Mom of 3 busy boys:
Finn 7
Ronan 5
Eamon 3
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post #18 of 78
2/20/09 at 9:05am
I think the key words here are "low-risk foods". That's a phrase I heard a lot from the inspector I spoke with. He was more concerned that I might also be cooking hamburgers!
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post #19 of 78
2/20/09 at 9:11am
yes hamburgers could be very scary!
I'm still confused... icon_confused.gif
I believe that every person is born with talent.
~ Maya Angelou
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I believe that every person is born with talent.
~ Maya Angelou
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post #20 of 78
2/20/09 at 9:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sugardivine

yes hamburgers could be very scary!
I'm still confused... icon_confused.gif



icon_lol.gif I guess he was thinking that I might be selling high risk food like hamburgers and meat, (at our Canada Day festivities) and it might be undercooked or whatever, and get people sick?
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post #21 of 78
2/20/09 at 9:39am
Can we all also post where in ON we are as we find out info? lol
I'm in Toronto/Thornhill (aka Vaughan/York Region)

I mean, sure, it's obvious everyone's already getting mixed information, but it may help to know in case we ever get a real solid answer from someone who knows what they're talking about icon_biggrin.gif

cakes22, when you say "as long as i dont advertise".. what happens if your friends and families are the ones doing it? all my 'orders' are from friends or family or friends of friends or family... lol
i mean, it's not as if i hunt down newly engaged couples and ask them if they want a cake, other people are the ones hunting me down.

bahhh.. i just wish there were people who could give us rock solid information.. do you guys think that if we maybe contacted the food network someone could point us in the right direction?
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post #22 of 78
2/20/09 at 9:56am
just a thought.. perhaps if we can't get any info about this that there is no info to get! icon_confused.gif
I believe that every person is born with talent.
~ Maya Angelou
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I believe that every person is born with talent.
~ Maya Angelou
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post #23 of 78
2/20/09 at 10:02am
I'm in Ottawa & I think the problem with here is that when we amalgalmated (spelling???) into one city, the regulations got all mixed & we are getting different info from different people and being in the goverment city, it's impossible to get a straight answer!

Mandice: Well, I can't control what others do icon_rolleyes.gif ! I've gotten all my business that way......like that old shampoo commerical "And she told two friends and so on and so on"

It would be nice to have what our friends in the states have. I am currently looking into renting a community kitchen (city approved, of course).
BAZINGA ~ Dr. Sheldon Cooper
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BAZINGA ~ Dr. Sheldon Cooper
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post #24 of 78
2/20/09 at 10:14am
Thread Starter 
Here's the link again. I was just able to see the site. Hope it works.

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_900562_e.htm

It's all very confusing

It would be great if we could get some solid answers and specific guidelines for Home Baking Businesses.

I'm in Newmarket (Which is York Region)
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post #25 of 78
2/20/09 at 10:38am
cakes22..This is where i'm confused...My understanding is that you can buy a business license pretty easily, just pay a fee and viola....well.....once you become a registered business isn't the health unit notified and then you are checked out? So although it's pretty easy to get the license, it comes with alot of headache. It would be sooo nice to get things wholesale without alerting the health unit to your home. Maybe i'm misunderstanding the whole thing, i dunno.

I have search hours online trying to find specifics as to what are the exact guidelines and have found nothing all that helpful. I've found stuff on labelling etc.. but not what the rules are with home food businesses..Perhaps it just simply is not there like sugardivine states. Frustrating.
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post #26 of 78
2/20/09 at 10:41am
watermellon...the llink worked..but...where does it specifically talk about bakery stuff, like cakes/cookies? Perhaps i'm overlooking it.
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post #27 of 78
2/20/09 at 10:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetcravings

cakes22..This is where i'm confused...My understanding is that you can buy a business license pretty easily, just pay a fee and viola....well.....once you become a registered business isn't the health unit notified and then you are checked out? So although it's pretty easy to get the license, it comes with alot of headache. It would be sooo nice to get things wholesale without alerting the health unit to your home. Maybe i'm misunderstanding the whole thing, i dunno.

I have search hours online trying to find specifics as to what are the exact guidelines and have found nothing all that helpful. I've found stuff on labelling etc.. but not what the rules are with home food businesses..Perhaps it just simply is not there like sugardivine states. Frustrating.




No problem getting the license,but flags are raised when food is involved. I researched from the begining, did a business name search, got the info on how to apply for a license etc. The more research I did within Ottawa (the city, not the government), the more I found out about how it is NOT legal to sell baked good from home. The HI I spoke to was very nice and very helpful. She said not to get a business number cause that would open up a whole can of worms regarding health regulations & food labeling. Also she told me that if any one got sick for whatever reason because of my products I would liable, which then inturns gets insurance involved. I asked "Well, what about all those bake sales?" They are exempt. "What if I do my food safety handling course?" Doesn't matter, your kitchen will not meet the HI standards, we won't even send someone to your home just to humour you. I would rather do things the right way than be in crap later on, and not be able to do cakes at all. I'm small potatos compared to others & I'm taking the advice of the HI and not advertising. I'm sure the HI have bigger fish to fry than hunting down lil'old me!!
BAZINGA ~ Dr. Sheldon Cooper
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BAZINGA ~ Dr. Sheldon Cooper
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post #28 of 78
2/20/09 at 11:09am
another helpful website is the ontario goverment website.
http://www.ontario.ca/en/communities/entrepreneurs/index.htm?openNav=businesses

Also, when you fill out the forms for the Business license, you have to be specific as to what you are doing. You can download the license app.form (pdf).
http://www.bdc-canada.com/BDC/Corporate/Business_Registration_ON.htm
BAZINGA ~ Dr. Sheldon Cooper
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BAZINGA ~ Dr. Sheldon Cooper
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post #29 of 78
2/20/09 at 11:35am
here is what I would have to fill out in Ottawa. not a big deal until you get to the bottom.......eeeeeek icon_cry.gif
http://www.ottawa.ca/business/licences/business_licencing_en.html
(click on the pdf link)
BAZINGA ~ Dr. Sheldon Cooper
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BAZINGA ~ Dr. Sheldon Cooper
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post #30 of 78
2/20/09 at 12:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by watermelon

I'm in Newmarket (Which is York Region)



Me too, Neighbour!
Pastryjen

Money talks...but chocolate rocks!
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Pastryjen

Money talks...but chocolate rocks!
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