Selling home-made produce

[sewer rat]

The only real risk of botulism with chillies and garlic is when they are used in oil and not therefore cooked to any great degree. Chilli sauces are good - I make one called Spitfire Sauce which is by far and away my best seller - I can't make enough (which might explain why I am growing enough chillies this year to fill one half of my 24' x 60' polytunnel).
Food Hygiene certificates - either through local authorities, local colleges etc or via the Internet.
Labelling - requirements currently state you must have either your name or company name and address, Name of Product, batch number, best before date (difficult but if you say a year from manufacture for chutneys etc you should be okay, and lets face it, most people buy chutneys, etc to use in the near future, not to squirrel away for a year), and a full list of ingredients.

[Mrs Jackson]

That's good to know! Should be fairy straightforward to get approved by EH then once I've actually come up with the recipes. Need to get cracking with those I think.

Mrs J

[sewer rat]

When EH came to inspect my kitchen, they only wanted to know what sorts of things I would be making - I told them jams, jellies, sauces and chutneys. They didn't want recipes - their main concerns were;
1. Food Hygiene Certificates to be held
2. Cleanliness of kitchen
3. Sterilising procedures for cooking implements, jars, lids etc.
They left me a guide re labelling requirements.

[Mrs Jackson]

I think EH must differ in different places. Ours have ok'd our kitchen for making products for immediate consumption but we were told that if we wanted to make preserves containing chilli then we would have to submit a recipe and they would decide if it was 'safe' or not.

Mrs J

[lettucegrow!]

Hi, Mrs J. Where do you sell your produce in Hertfordshire? Always like to sample other peoples goodies- anywhere near Stevenage?

[Dane End Dolly]

Just wanted to update you all and say thanks for all your help. We got environmental health checked and passed with flying colours and we've had a little market stall going 3 days a week since before Christmas. We're not currently selling any home-made preserves as we need to go through extra checks for those and haven't had time, but we're stocking a range of chilli-related products from different UK companies as well as our own brand of chilli flakes. It's been a bit nerve-wracking but it got us through Christmas at least!

Mrs J

Well done, where is your market stall, i live in herts so i might come and have a nosey, always happy to support a grape.

Kx

[Mrs Jackson]

I've PM'd you both

Mrs J