I just found out that one of the bakers in my town is baking at her home and then selling her goods in the small cafe owned by her family. Quite frankly this makes me flaming mad. Home bakeries are illegal here which is the only thing keeping me from having an almost identical business strategy. I can't decide if I want to turn her in or not. She is gaining allot of popularity and press from her baked goods and it is all because she is acting illegally. I just want to clarify that I know she is baking the goods at home because she said it in a publication and I know it is illegal to have a home bakery because that was what I was planning to do. How would you react in this situation?

If her family has a cafe, it sounds like she has access to a comm'l kitchen, so why not just bite the bullet and do it right?

If this info was contained in a printed article or there's a transcript of the article, I'd circle the appropriate parts and mail it to the Health Department.

I'd play innocent, call her up and say that you saw the interview where she said she bakes in her home, then ask her how she got permission to do that since you thought it's illegal, but you'd like to find out how to do the same thing.

The problem that you'd run into if you did turn her in is that she'll just say that she uses the kitchen at the cafe (if there is one) and they wouldn't be able to prove otherwise, most likely.

If she's getting the publicity, chances are the HD will take notice sooner or later.....if they're doing their job, that is.

I tend to mind my own business.

The kitchen at the café might not be approved for baked goods.

No way would I turn her in. It's not my business what she does, at least with her business. If she is illegal and publicizes it she will get caught. What would it do for you to turn her in?

It cuts the competition if they turn her in.

I tend to notice the people that want to turn someone in always seems to stem from jealousy...though I know EVERY OP who has asked about this subject all claim its from there DEEP SENSE of MORALITY of the illegal baker perpetrating such a crime. Do you want you want to do, but don't say you want to do it cause you hate to see such a crime committed. The state I live in allows in-home baking, but there are still some people that do it illegally. I know a woman that has been doing it for 19 years. Shes not a threat to me, I could careless about the competition, legal or otherwise. And as they say, "God doesn't like ugly"!

If you had a legal business and she was operating illegally and taking your customers, I could see why you would want to turn her in. But since you don't have a business, it seems like you would just be doing it out of spite, unless you're really concerned that she might make someone ill with her baking.

One of my neighbors makes empanadas in her apartment and sells them to restaurants. Her whole living room is full of freezers. It's definitely illegal...but it's not affecting me in any way, so I've never considered turning her in. She's more likely to make someone sick because her empanadas have meat and fish in them but she doesn't have a lot of job opportunities and her husband works at taco bell, so I figure she's just doing what she has to to feed her family.

Just remember what is said in so many ways:
- what goes around, comes around.
-you reap what you sow.
-.....karma
'nuf said.

@ the empanadas story -

That's what I don't get about Texas. The permit the mobile food carts and trucks left and right and we know how gross those are, but they won't allow home baking. It's easier for her to get permitted than a baker. So frustrating!!

Give me an honest answer, why is it making you flaming mad?

What sort of things is she selling at her family's cafe? Is she making Wedding, Birthday, Anniversary type cakes? or Just making scones, muffins, cupcakes, cookies etc?

Just curious.

Even though we all feel it now and then, I just don't believe things should be done out of spite or envy. I totally understand that you would want to turn her in but think about why you would be doing it. That is one of the great things about this site. You can come here and vent to people who understand.

I'm going to play devils advocate here....I'm not taking sides on this one just a got a question that perked my interest.....
So What I am reading above is that the majority would NOT turn her in...Karma, jealousy, spite, etc. Even though she is breaking the law.
Ok, so here is my question....
Following the above logic then that means if you saw super hot Catherine Zeta-Jones (Who for argument sake we could all say we would not mind having a bum like hers!) Doing something illegal say drinking and driving...you would NOT turn her in???
.....Hmmmmm

Ok now I know you'll say "Well I would she could kill someone or herself!"
My retort....well if you aren't following safe food practice and food safe methods..you could also kill someone! (watch Kitchen Nightmares)

Ok just my thoughts......
I still follow my motto.... everyone has their OWN opinion...and it will be different then YOURS... thats why it's THEIRS!!!

I wouldn't turn someone in because I mind my own business. I don't call the police every time I see someone speed or run a red light.

Can someone explain to me why, when the topic of turning in people who are operating illegally comes up, people start screeching about karma and minding your own business, but when someone is using someone else's pictures on their website it's all torches and pitchforks and GET THEM GET THEM?

I think it's different because "get them" for displaying false cakes on their website would be to tell them that you know what they're doing and that they shouldn't pretend that something is theirs when it's not, not necessarily getting them fined or arrested for selling their own work.

I'm like the OP that I would love to have a business, but wouldn't do it because it is illegal. That doesn't mean that if the lady next door has a great business from her home that I would want to turn her in and ruin her life. I guess I just don't care either way. Not my problem.

Why does this comment come up every other week now? Are people just trying to stir up problems and drama?

Look, some people would turn her in, and others wouldn't. Some people thinks it is wrong to turn her in, some people think that it's wrong to bake from home. The two sides will never agree or convince the other to believe what they believe.

Can we stop talking about this topic now? It's starting to get ridiculous.

I do work in a licensed kitchen and I know of SEVERAL people around me who do not. Does it bother me? No, because I have all the business I want right now. They are not taking away business from me so I don't care what they do. If they did take business away from me, that would give me more time to sit on my big butt and enjoy some tv and bon bons

I'd reckon that besides this one lady that you know about there is at least a couple of other people that you don't know about who are selling baked goods/cakes illegally in your town.

It happens, you can't control who is doing it legally or illegally. Heck not even the health inspectors seem to have a firm grasp of it in any town/city that I've heard of.

The only thing you can control is how you are going to operate, don't waste time worrying about how others are living their lives. Use your energy to take your life and business in the direction that you choose to follow.

It's not because her kitchen is illegal that therefor there is an issue regarding food safety.
I think I'd rather have cake from an illegal clean kitchen than from a dirty legal kitchen (Kitchen nightmares anyone?).

Just my 2 cts of course.