States ease food safety rules for homemade goods

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Food-safety laws are designed to keep the public safe. But some lawmakers in Wisconsin and a few other states say it's not reasonable to make people selling a few jars of jam at a farmer's market follow the same rules as a big food companies.

Wisconsin lawmakers enacted the so-called Pickle Bill in February. It allows small vendors to sell high-acid canned foods, such as pickles and salsas, without a license.

Retiree Joan Arnold in Rudolph, Wis., says the new law lets her make a little money selling jam. She says people like her can't afford to build or rent the kind of commercial kitchens needed to get a food processing license.

But health officials say they worry people could get sick from foods make in kitchens that aren't inspected.