So, every now and then, I do a search online to see how my website is pulling up. Well today I discovered a new home bakery - literally like a quarter of a mile away from me (and I am in a small town). She states right on her home page that she has 2 dogs and 2 cats (illegal in my state), and she advertises selling cheesecakes (illegal in my state). I am pretty sure she is illegally selling, otherwise, I don't know why she would have those things out in the open. What should I do? Would you report your neighbor? I went through the whole process to become legit. It peeves me a little... If you want to see her website, pm me. I don't want to just put it out there.

Yep, I would report her. And..if anyone told me about her business, I'd say
"Did you know she is operating illegally?" It won't necessarily stop them from using her but at least you gave them a heads up. Some will say, "be thankful for the competition, it makes you stronger, and illegal businesses don't hurt your business". I don't agree but that's just MHO.

If reporting her is what you choose to do, first call her and find out exactly what she's selling. At least, then, you will have all the facts straight before you make your report.

Theresa

I understanding being peeved. It's a common practice where I live, where it is illegal to sell food from your home kitchen. Even licensed caterers send customers to unlicensed cake decorators. Home bakers don't usually have the extra expenses that inspected bakers do, so they can sell their goods for less, and sometimes customers look at price rather than safety and quality. I seriously doubt that these home bakers are reporting their income and paying tax like licensed businesses.

Illegal home bakers seem to not know or care that what they are doing is illegal. They have websites, facebook pages and plenty of business. Even if their cat throws up on the kitchen counter in front of potential customers, oh yeah, but that is another story.

I believe folks should play by the rules.....

I too believe folks should play by the rules.
And I don't know any rule that says one should turn in one's neighbor for baking and selling it.
I think it stirs up more bad juju than it does good.
There could be some illegal babysitting going on in the neighborhood too. And someone fixing someone's car in an unregulated unlicensed way depriving automotive shops of thier due. I don't know--no easy answers.

I alert bakers in my area sometimes. But I don't call in on 'em. I don't think it's any of my business. I'm not protecting or enabling them but I ain't the food police.

Why can't you sell cheesecakes?

I don't like to play police, either...I have enough to just do my own cakes and take care of my own family.

They probably cannot sell cheesecakes because they are perishable...I know even in our state, you can easily get licensed for nonperishable baking (what I do) and then I think you need extra licensing to sell actual refrigerated desserts and catering stuff like that.

WHY would she state that she has two dogs and two cats??

I know each state (and possibly county) is different. I operate out of a home kitchen and it cost me A LOT of money to get "legal". Price-wise, it is difficult for me to compete with an illegal baker with no overhead.

I think you should report them. If nothing is wrong, nothing will happen.

"- literally like a quarter of a mile away from me (and I am in a small town). "
I wouldn't recommend reporting her. In a small town it wouldn't take long for info on who reported her to leak out. Then you would be the evil -itch who wrecked her business. Not a good thing in a small town.

I personally would either leave it, or speak to this person directly and ask them "Do you realise this is illegal?". You could always make out that you're asking out of concern for them, and that you "would hate for someone to report them".

Just a thought!

I've read quite a few threads in here on this very topic. I know of a woman about 45 minutes from here who advertises on Craigslist and has a website and boasts about being a stay at home mom, and how she can save you money over bakery prices, etc. I wanted to just be helpful to her and let her know she might not want to be so out there (oh, did I mention she has her own photo on her website?) or she could have serious trouble because you can't bake from home in our state. I telephoned her, never got an answer, so I emailed her and she said she'd be in touch. Well, our website that just posts the cakes we have done are there and I think she must have figured out that we bake cakes (hobby only though), and she's 45 minutes away, not what would be competition if we were both selling, and there are legit bakeries in between that are wonderful. Anyway, she writes back saying she's very busy but will call in a day or two. She put me off several times, and never did contact me. I'm guessing she is afraid I will either threaten her, or something, don't know what; and all I wanted to do was let her know she could have problems. I would guess she must realize she is operating illegally, but doesn't care? Does it sound that way to others? (Sorry to take over this thread)

i don't know what you should do either. i'm in the same boat. i live in NC where it's legal to have a home bakery. i did everything the right way. but i know of at least two home bakers that haven't gotten legal and it drives me nuts! they both have facebook pages that they advertise with; one has a website (which she pratcially copied word for word from me). and one of them has said point blank to me, "well i can only charge my brides for the ingredient's costs b/c i'm not legal yet." i wanted to say, "well, you technically shouldn't charge at all then!" how can i compete with someone who is only charging for ingredients? oh, she's less than a mile from me! i've advised both of these women to get inspected...i've even given them the health inspector's name and cell number. but who knows what they've chosen to do with with it?! all i know is that if you live in a state where you can sell from home, then get LEGAL! and for whoever said, "in this econonomy how can we take food from their mouths..." What about my mouth, and my kids' mouths? I'm making a living too...and having to compete against other selling at cost! i'm the one playing fair, not them! so why defend them? just a thought!

Thanks for all of the responses. I think I'm just going to send her a message and let her know that it's illegal. She might not know, and I'm going to give her the benefit of a doubt. also, somebody asked why selling cheesecakes is illegal here - it's only illegal to sell them from your home because they are not deemed a "low risk" food because they are so perishable.

After you send the email, see if she stops. If she doesn't, I would turn her in. This is just my opinion and I do respect those who say leave it alone. I am not opposed to people selling to friends, co-workers, family, etc... or even word of mouth. They were probably never a customer for retail. But to solicit strangers is too much, especially online. In my area, it is extremely costly to open a home or shop (same requirements), so I have tons of money invested. Luckily, no one advertises illegally here. I think our health dept keeps their eyes wide open.

The licenses are required for public safety and I am glad those requirements are in place every time I eat outside of my home.

I hear ya 2am. I'm also in NC. It's not hard to get licensed here. Not hard at all. Well unless you got a fur baby.

If you have contacted her with a "friendly" email or letter regarding her operating an illegal business, and she continues to operate illegally, I would just drop it. If this was done anonomously, I might be inclined to persue it, but if she knows who you are, where you live, etc, I would leave it go. You never know just what she or her husband/family would be capable of in this situation. You may be placing your property or even your persosnal safety in danger. Just sayin, some people are capable of some heinous acts when put in this kind of a situation.

Just added to say that I hope that I didn't come across as a paranoid nut job, but living in a large metropolitan area, things like this happen over much lesser situations. Just would hate to see this happen to you over a relatively trivial situation. Put your family and your safety first.

diamonds-and-rust, sadly, I think you made a very valid point that needs to be taken into consideration.

sad but true....this is the world we live in