Foodborne illnesses affect 48 million Americans each year. Illinois has an estimated 500 cottage food businesses, and we want those food products to be safe for consumers. The Cottage Food Operation Law, first enacted in 2012, was amended in 2018 and again in 2022, thanks to the efforts of Illinois Extension educators Jenna Smith and Mary Liz Wright. Wright serves residents of Clark, Crawford, and Edgar counties.
In cooperation with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance and the Illinois Department of Public Health, Smith and Wright provided food safety expertise to assist writing the proposed amendment, making certain food safety practices were a part of the proposal. Their focus was on the processing of acidified and fermented foods.
Partnership is key.
To help cottage food operators better understand the law, Illinois Extension presented several webinars to hundreds of participants, both with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance and the Illinois Farmers Market Association (ILFMA). Wright is currently serving as the cottage food expert on the ILFMA board. In this capacity, she has delivered the Cottage Food Update presentation to several in-person and online workshops, including the Illinois Specialty Growers Conference.
To further ensure the public will follow the new law, Smith, Wright, and Adena Wilson, Extension online instruction specialist, are developing an online course for cottage food operators. This comprehensive course will cover all aspects of delivering a safe and wholesome product to consumers. This course will roll out in Spring 2022 for a nominal fee.
Real change takes place.
The Governor signed the amendment to the Cottage Food Law that took effect in January 2022. Due to Smith’s and Wright’s commitment to ensuring this law necessitates safe food handling and processing practices, Illinois Extension has potentially reduced the instances of harmful foodborne illnesses caused by unsafe food preparation. In addition, we have proven our value to the Illinois Stewardship Alliance and strengthened our partnership.