Local Legislator Seeks Exemption For Banned Desserts

With Friday comes Lenten Fish Fries at churches and fire halls across the Alleghenies, but what a lot of people don't know is at some of those venues, the desserts and homemade baked goods are technically illegal. Now a local lawmaker is trying to change that.

A law that has been on the books in Pennsylvania since 1945 says food that is sold at fish fries, spaghetti dinners, bake sales or any other church or community organization fundraiser, has to be made in a commercial kitchen that passes federal inspection. None of the food for sale can be made in parishioners' homes. According to Sen. Rich Kasunic, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture never enforced the rule until recently.

"What we have now is some over-zealous agents and inspectors who are threatening to cite local organization and in particular local churches," said Kasunic.

Now volunteers at some local churches are becoming fearful that they will be fined or their community meals will be stopped.

Volunteers at St. Casimir and Emerich Catholic Church in Johnstown said their fish fries are their biggest source of revenue. They help to pay the parish bills. However, they've had to make their gobs in their federally inspected kitchen. They are not allowed to accept donations for any of the ingredients either.

On any given Friday, the church sells about 1,000 of the goodies. According to volunteers, if they could get some of the desserts donated it would be a great boost to their bake sale.

"If we could accept the donations, it would help churches increase our profits and it would keep churches going," said Timothy Hollis, one of the volunteers at St. Casimir and Emerich.

Kasunic is currently putting the finishing touches on a bill that would allow churches and other nonprofits to be exempt from the law. He said he hopes both the Pennsylvania House and Senate pass it by June.