Hands up and drop the ceviche

[Big Dad]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/11/07/undercover-sting-nabs-california-mother-selling-ceviche-through-facebook-group/

Mariza Ruelas never expected a plate of ceviche would lead her to the court house and maybe even a possible jail sentence.

For more than a year, undercover investigators in San Joaquin County, California tracked the sales of food — such as homemade tamales, tortillas and cakes — through a community Facebook group, a sting that Mariza Ruelas called a “waste of time and resources and taxpayers’ money.”

Ruelas, a single mother of six, first came across the Facebook group about two years ago when she needed a last-minute cake for her daughter’s quinceañera, the Hispanic coming-of-age celebration on a young woman’s 15th birthday.

The community forum, 209 Food Spot, allowed Stockton, Calif. residents to share recipes, organize potlucks and occasionally sell or exchange food items.

As a hobby, about once a month, Ruelas began offering up her own dishes — a tray of rice and beans in exchange for a birthday cake, her staple chicken-stuffed avocados to those who requested it, she said in a phone interview with the Post.

Then, in July, she received a letter in the mail: she was being summoned to court. Ruelas, along with several other group members, faced citations for two misdemeanors — operating a food facility and engaging in business without a permit. An undercover investigator had ordered a ceviche from her through the Facebook group in October 2015 as part of a sting.

At least a half-dozen other members accepted a plea deal of one year of probation, a $235 fine and 40 hours of community service. Ruelas was offered a deal with twice the community service, three years of probation and the $235 fine, so she refused to accept it, she said.

The single mother of six is headed to trial and faces up to a year in jail for her misdemeanors.

“We didn’t see any harm in that,” she said, of selling and exchanging meals through the group. “There wasn’t anybody selling it daily. A lot of times, they were just getting back what they put into the ingredients.”

She hadn’t ever looked into obtaining a permit, Ruelas said, because she only sold or exchanged food items once or twice a month at most, as a hobby on occasional weekends. It was an activity she enjoyed sharing with her children, ages 6 through 20, who would help prepare and deliver some of the dishes

[Jose]

What a fucking waste of time. I get what the city is trying to do, but if you are buying food from an individual you know from over the internet, you know what you are getting into if you get sick.

[kingjason]

What a fucking waste of time. I get what the city is trying to do, but if you are buying food from an individual you know from over the internet, you know what you are getting into if you get sick.

x2

[Grimpala]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...acebook-group/

Mariza Ruelas never expected a plate of ceviche would lead her to the court house and maybe even a possible jail sentence.

For more than a year, undercover investigators in San Joaquin County, California tracked the sales of food — such as homemade tamales, tortillas and cakes — through a community Facebook group, a sting that Mariza Ruelas called a “waste of time and resources and taxpayers’ money.”

Ruelas, a single mother of six, first came across the Facebook group about two years ago when she needed a last-minute cake for her daughter’s quinceañera, the Hispanic coming-of-age celebration on a young woman’s 15th birthday.

The community forum, 209 Food Spot, allowed Stockton, Calif. residents to share recipes, organize potlucks and occasionally sell or exchange food items.

As a hobby, about once a month, Ruelas began offering up her own dishes — a tray of rice and beans in exchange for a birthday cake, her staple chicken-stuffed avocados to those who requested it, she said in a phone interview with the Post.

Then, in July, she received a letter in the mail: she was being summoned to court. Ruelas, along with several other group members, faced citations for two misdemeanors — operating a food facility and engaging in business without a permit. An undercover investigator had ordered a ceviche from her through the Facebook group in October 2015 as part of a sting.

At least a half-dozen other members accepted a plea deal of one year of probation, a $235 fine and 40 hours of community service. Ruelas was offered a deal with twice the community service, three years of probation and the $235 fine, so she refused to accept it, she said.

The single mother of six is headed to trial and faces up to a year in jail for her misdemeanors.

“We didn’t see any harm in that,” she said, of selling and exchanging meals through the group. “There wasn’t anybody selling it daily. A lot of times, they were just getting back what they put into the ingredients.”

She hadn’t ever looked into obtaining a permit, Ruelas said, because she only sold or exchanged food items once or twice a month at most, as a hobby on occasional weekends. It was an activity she enjoyed sharing with her children, ages 6 through 20, who would help prepare and deliver some of the dishes

Highlighted the problem for you.

[FastFox]

Just look at the state she lived in. What do you expect ?

[mstng86]

Shit, my wife does this all the time. I wonder how this works in Texas.

She makes a cake or two every few months.

[Baron Von Crowder]

making cevicheing

[Kart21]

Is that like buying steaks from the back of a pickup truck?

[Rick Modena]

making cevicheing

Fuck that was funny!

[fordracing19]

If I have to be permitted and inspected, everyone else should too.

[Grimpala]

If I have to be permitted and inspected, everyone else should too.

where do you draw the line?

When I was growing up mom had a friend and they would split dinner duties a night or two a week. She'd fix enough for her family and ours one night, and then the friend would fix enough for her's and ours another. Same scenario, just trading food for food instead of food for money.

Hell when we have GTG's, the payment is in beer/wine or deserts.

[fordracing19]

Selling food. Texas does have the Cottage Law for baked goods. I see people selling ribs, brisket, tamales, ect on Facebook from their homes all the time. I don't think it is right from the not charging sales tax to not being permitted to no health inspections.

[juiceweezl]

Selling food. Texas does have the Cottage Law for baked goods. I see people selling ribs, brisket, tamales, ect on Facebook from their homes all the time. I don't think it is right from the not charging sales tax to not being permitted to no health inspections.

The article above mentions more trading than selling, and it says about once or twice a month for her. That's completely different than someone who is selling out of their home. I see it as nothing like those that sell clothes for example.

To me, the case is more like Craigslist or a garage sale. Of course it's Cali, so they just want the tax dollars.

[black2002ls]

Shit, my wife does this all the time. I wonder how this works in Texas.

She makes a cake or two every few months.

So long as the cakes do not require refrigeration, she is covered. There are some fine details that "should" be paid attention too, mentioned below. Though ever sally, jane, and julie are doing the exact same thing these days. Does she need any cake boards or anything? I am set up with several of the large distributors and can buy at reduced cost

If I have to be permitted and inspected, everyone else should too.

If they follow the cottage food bill, they shouldn't be in direct competition with any brick and mortar location. With the exception of bakeries, however, in most areas, they are not plentiful enough for their business to be affected.

where do you draw the line?

When I was growing up mom had a friend and they would split dinner duties a night or two a week. She'd fix enough for her family and ours one night, and then the friend would fix enough for her's and ours another. Same scenario, just trading food for food instead of food for money.

Hell when we have GTG's, the payment is in beer/wine or deserts.

I didn't read the article, though I would assume she is selling it for profit, completely different.

Selling food. Texas does have the Cottage Law for baked goods. I see people selling ribs, brisket, tamales, ect on Facebook from their homes all the time. I don't think it is right from the not charging sales tax to not being permitted to no health inspections.

The article above mentions more trading than selling, and it says about once or twice a month for her. That's completely different than someone who is selling out of their home. I see it as nothing like those that sell clothes for example.

To me, the case is more like Craigslist or a garage sale. Of course it's Cali, so they just want the tax dollars.

The cottage food bill here in Texas, and I would assume most other states, only provides for shelf stable goods to be sold from home bakers.

They MUST put on their label/packaging, or make it understood, that they operate under the cottage food bill and are not regulated by the health department.
They MUST maintain a current food handlers license.
They may not make more than $50,000 annually from the sale of their goods

The general public can submit a complaint with the health department, however, there isn't a whole lot they can do.

I see this shit all of the time. It irks me, because I followed the rules when I was baking. When I wanted to make and sell items that were not approved by the bill, I would rent space from a local cafe and store items there.

[WhiteMach1]

If I have to be permitted and inspected, everyone else should too.

This is brought up in a different article.

http://abc7.com/food/mom-faces-jail-...ebook/1593831/

"The deputy district attorney for San Joaquin County, Kelly McDaniel, says selling any food not subject to health department inspection puts the people who eat that food in danger. She says it also undercuts business owners who get permits to make their food."