Bakers are hot as an oven over rules

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Home bakers across Texas are hot as an oven over a proposed new law that would make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to bake and sell their cakes, cupcakes and cookies. 

"I was angry. I was angry. I felt it was unfair," said a home baker who only wanted to be known as Rachel. "It's not fair that home bakers have to do this when other corporations don't have to do it. It's just another way the long arm of jurisdiction is reaching into our homes."

The proposed law would require home bakers like Rachel to label their goods with their names, address, the fact it is home made. Further, it would make them list any possible allergens and list all the contents by descending order of weight, lists that must be printed in permanent ink.

"It would take an inordinate amount of time to weigh every ingredient, calculate it based on the metric system and then create the label using a laser jet printer," Rachel said. "We're not allowed to use ink jet printers and be able to customize all those labels, in addition to all the work it takes to create a cake."

The law's proponents say home bakers work in unregulated and bake in possibly unhealthy conditions. But what especially frosts these home bakers: groceries and commercial bakeries are not required to follow this set of rules.

"Commercial bakeries down the street don't have to follow the same guidelines," Rachel said.  "If it's a matter of public health, i think all bakeries should have to weigh their cakes before they sell them."

The Department of State Health Services says these new requirements are just a draft of the law and it can be adjusted after a 30-day period to get public input.