Our Protection

Media outlets as ideologically diverse as Fox News and NPR have run stories about how kids who run lemonade stands are being fined or shut down by zealous regulators.

It's easy to see the motivation behind lemonade laws. Health departments are charged with ensuring food safety. Bad publicity, not to mention lawsuits, would result if someone got sick from drinking unlicensed lemonade.

Unfortunately there is no one to advocate for difficult-to-quantify benefits like teaching kids about entrepreneurship or fostering neighborhood spirit.  IMHO the community is worse off because there is no push-back against the cost of over-regulation.

In a few weeks we'll be selling pre-packaged ice cream at the local Arts and Wine Festival. (profits will go to hunger charities). We will take the wrapped bars and ice cream sandwiches from the freezer and hand them to the customer. Although we will not be in contact with the food, we, like all other food vendors, must set up a hand-washing station (picture) with warm water, wastewater bucket, soap, and paper towels. Bottles of hand sanitizers or sanitizing cloths will not be sufficient to satisfy the requirement.

It's useless to ask for a waiver, because if the rules are bent for us, others vendors might ask for similar treatment.  So we will comply (cheerfully!) with the five pages of instructions for "Temporary Food Sales," every jot and tittle of which has been thoughtfully composed for the public's protection.