I'm in Missouri, and just finished the cake decorating one course. My cakes look good (now that I've practiced.) I put pictures in an album on Facebook, and 3 people messaged me to make their birthday cakes. The thought of that is flattering, but in my mind, if they got sick from eating the cake I sold them, no one has ever gotten sick from anything I made but, they could get sick and blame the cake.

That's not being pessimistic, it's realistic. I only bake on weekends. My cakes are smooth, but I've not mastered fondant yet. That's my next class. I can see saving up to become licensed. But to have them come in and inspect my kitchen? My mom and I share the house, and it is a clean kitchen. Missouri has a cottage law, I guess that's what it's called.

I only bake on weekends, if at that, but i'm a nurse, and I am well aware of liability. I know for a fact that if they buy a cake from me, and they get the flu the same week, they can blame the cake. I also know if I donated a cake to charity, same thing. I know several people who bake cakes without a license, and it's not safe.

So, do I start first with the health department? I've looked the internet up and down, and can't find Missouri's baking laws.

If I give someone a cake, do I need to be licensed?

Missouri differs from county to county. A call to your local health department is the best place to start.

Do the laws vary from county to county in Illinois too?

I thought the cottage laws were the same throughout the state?

Thanks

Cottage food laws are the same throughout the state, but each county has the option of including more restrictive food safety laws. Individual municipalities can also have zoning rules that would prevent you from legally doing business from your home, even with a cottage food law at the state level.

House bill 617, it was read for the 2nd time Feb 15, 2013. We have started a FB group: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/152208218265958/?bookmark_t=group to get support for the cottage food law in Missouri. Please join us, and contact your representive to let them know you support it!