Montana-made food product liability workshop series offered online

The Helena-based Alternative Energy Resources Organization, in collaboration with Farm Commons, is offering a free virtual two-part workshop series on Wednesdays, Nov. 3 and Nov. 10, on the opportunities and legal risks associated with selling foods under the new Montana Food Freedom Law.

Pre-registration is required to attend the free online sessions.

Signed into law in April 2021, the Montana Food Freedom Law (also known as “Montana Local Food Choice Act” or Senate Bill 199) is intended to expand opportunities for farmers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs to sell food directly to their neighbors and significantly expands the foods Montanans now can make at home and sell to the public without a license, permit, certification, packaging guidelines, labels, or an inspection. New foods include raw milk and dairy products, poultry, fermented foods such as pickles and kimchi, pesto, salsa, sauces and other processed goods, foraged foods such as mushrooms, perishable baked goods, processed and frozen vegetables and prepared meals

Significant food safety issues can accompany these new foods if improperly prepared, the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) noted in a press release. The new law eliminates the registration/licensing review process that previously provided prospective food producers/food sellers with a comprehensive evaluation of food safety practices.

Even though there are few regulatory guidelines under the new law, food producers/food sellers still remain legally liable if any foods or food products they sell cause an illness. As such, the new law could unintentionally expose producers/food sellers to increased financial and legal risk.

AERO, a longtime advocate of Montana-made foods and building consumer confidence in, and demand for, local food, is a state leader in cottage food operator education. In support of the new law’s expansion of the local food sector, AERO offers these workshops to ensure that producers enter into these new opportunities with the business and legal framework to support positive outcomes and continue building consumer confidence.

Farmers market vendors and managers, farmers, ranchers, cottage food operators, registered county sanitarians, caterers, raw milk producers, value-added food producers/manufacturers, and consumers are invited to attend this series to learn the risks and how to minimize legal vulnerabilities when selling food under the new law. Farm Commons (https://farmcommons.org/) the foremost national resource on legal issues and managing risk for the agricultural community, leads the workshop series.

• Workshop 1: Legal Liability and Food Related Incidents – Nov. 3, 3-4 p.m. General overview, helpful for anyone selling food products. Addresses who is held liable in the event of an illness and how to structure your business to protect your financial livelihood.

• Workshop 2: Decoding Montana Food Freedom – Nov. 10, 3-4:30 p.m.

Breaks down the new law, including the permitted foods, when and how they can be sold, and the opportunities and challenges the law presents the food seller.

To register and for more information: https://aeromt.org/food-product-liability-workshop-series/