According to Walker, St. Catherine has two choices: a $50 temporary permit each month, or a permanent permit, which carries with it an initial fee of $160, as well as a yearly renewal fee that ranges from $130 to $310.
Walker said all food handlers must also obtain Hepatitis A vaccinations, and at least one member of the kitchen staff must undergo training to acquire a food safety certificate.
“Poor people deserve not to be food poisoned too,” Walker said. “The reason we do it is there is science about how to keep food safe.”
Lichtenwalter said he was contacted by the health department earlier this week after the city received at least one complaint about his food ministry.
Mary Ann Lawrence, pastor at St. Matthew’s United Church of Christ, who rents her parish’s space to St. Catherine, said Lichtenwalter is simply being asked to follow the law.
“Nobody wants the meals stopped. It’s just a matter of this is the law, and this is what we do,” Lawrence said.
I really live on the edge.
Every so often, I bring the kids to my local parish supper. It's usually run by the Knights of Columbus or some other parish volunteers.
I'm virtually certain nobody has a food safety certificate or a Hepatitis vaccination.
It's funny, because I've gone to restaurants, like McDonald's, that actually comply with these requirements and have gotten sick.
If you're in the food business, you don't want to poison your customers. You don't need a bureaucrat telling you how to run your business.
