MONTAGUE — Questionable egg legislation that will levy steep fines against a store owner here isn’t going over easy.
Especially since this week the Department of Health delivered a hard-boiled ultimatum to The Turning Point health food store here — stop selling farm fresh eggs or face fines.
“The government says it’s a public health issue and that I am putting people at risk, but the farmer is selling the exact same eggs to customers who go to his farm,’’ says storeowner April MacLean.
“I have to comply because I am a licensed food provider selling federally uninspected eggs.”
MacLean won’t be coddled by the federal inspection issue, but she doesn’t want a fight with authorities. Instead, she scrambled up the idea of asking customers to sign a waiver if they wish to buy her farm fresh eggs.
“I’m just going to ask my customers to sign a waiver. In that way, I remove the liability away from public health people as well as myself. We’ve never had a problem with eggs, but if I need to use a waiver I will and I don’t think my customers will mind.”
Meanwhile, health inspectors will meet this week with provincial Chief Health Officer Heather Morrison to review the legislative yolk and decide whether to issue non-compliance fines.
It’s not the first time the health food store in the Down East Mall has hit the news. A few years back, under former owners Chris and Mary Mermuys, the store stirred up an omelette by giving the eggs away free and charging for the cartons.
“These eggs come from a reputable operator on the Island who has his own wash house and is certified,’’ said MacLean. “But as soon as they enter my store, which is licensed to sell food products, those eggs become illegal.”
As of Wednesday, there was no shortage of names on the waiver sheet.
MONTAGUE — Questionable egg legislation that will levy steep fines against a store owner here isn’t going over easy.
Especially since this week the Department of Health delivered a hard-boiled ultimatum to The Turning Point health food store here — stop selling farm fresh eggs or face fines.
“The government says it’s a public health issue and that I am putting people at risk, but the farmer is selling the exact same eggs to customers who go to his farm,’’ says storeowner April MacLean.
“I have to comply because I am a licensed food provider selling federally uninspected eggs.”
MacLean won’t be coddled by the federal inspection issue, but she doesn’t want a fight with authorities. Instead, she scrambled up the idea of asking customers to sign a waiver if they wish to buy her farm fresh eggs.
“I’m just going to ask my customers to sign a waiver. In that way, I remove the liability away from public health people as well as myself. We’ve never had a problem with eggs, but if I need to use a waiver I will and I don’t think my customers will mind.”
Meanwhile, health inspectors will meet this week with provincial Chief Health Officer Heather Morrison to review the legislative yolk and decide whether to issue non-compliance fines.
It’s not the first time the health food store in the Down East Mall has hit the news. A few years back, under former owners Chris and Mary Mermuys, the store stirred up an omelette by giving the eggs away free and charging for the cartons.
“These eggs come from a reputable operator on the Island who has his own wash house and is certified,’’ said MacLean. “But as soon as they enter my store, which is licensed to sell food products, those eggs become illegal.”
As of Wednesday, there was no shortage of names on the waiver sheet.
