Basic food hygiene. As it's POETS day, I offer the following; "What would you like for breakfast sir?" (Said the waiter, picking his nose) "Hard boiled eggs" the guest replied, "You can't get your fingers in those".

I don't think it's either, I am of the opinion like all these stories it's some one who hasn't got a clue what they are talking about but who are allowed to make decisions.

Doh- that should read shops!

A quote from the article - "Julie Bell of Lancashire County Council said: ‘Although we know home-cooked baking often tastes better, we can only allow packaged goods with clearly labelled ingredients." Now if she had said because of XX Regulations we would be able to decide whether there was any justice in her comments. However, newspapers do not want to put in details which "may confuse" our listeners / readers. I had this yesterday talking to the local BBC radio - "do not make it too technical". Frustrating then for observers not knowing the grounds of the decision.

Principal provisions of the Food Labelling Regulations: "The principal provisions of the Regulations are to require all food which is ready for delivery to the ultimate consumer or to a catering establishment, subject to certain exceptions, to be marked or labelled with - • the name of the food (regulations 5(a), 6 to 11, and Schedules 1 and 2); • a list of ingredients (regulations 5(b), 12 to 18, and Schedules 3 and 4); • the appropriate durability indication (regulations 5(c), 20 to 22); • any special storage conditions or conditions of use (regulation 5(d)); • the name and address of the manufacturer or packer or of a seller (regulation 5(e)); and in certain cases - • particulars of the place of origin of the food (regulation 5(f)), and • instructions for use (regulation 5(g));"

I am not fully conversant with these Food Labelling Regulations, but I would point out Reg 4: QUOTE 4(3) This Part of these Regulations does not apply to— (a)any drink bottled before 1st January 1983 which has an alcoholic strength by volume of more than 1.2 per cent and which is labelled in accordance with the legislation in force at the time of bottling; (b)any food prepared on domestic premises for sale for the benefit of the person preparing it by a society registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965(26); (c)any food prepared otherwise than in the course of a business carried on by the person preparing it. UNQUOTE Certainly a good argument that they do not apply to these particular circumstances, although the grammar in (b) is awful and, hence, somewhat unclear!

Why don’t people get their tiny minds around the fact that this is not Health and Safety or even ‘elf n safety’? Sloppy journalism, sloppy thinking. makes me mad.

Is this a national thing? My local library had home made cakes for sale today (in aid of MacMillans(s)). I see the LCC spokesperson was the head of library services. I wonder if she took advice?

We hold homemade cake stalls in our firm for chairty fund rasiers. As long as the ingredients are lablled it's not a problem. we even sold some to our local EHO once!