If There's Unregulated Fun, Never Fear, The Government Will Leap In To Stop It
An Encinitas hardware store had a popcorn machine and free popcorn for customers coming in -- until it was shut down by the health department, writes Ken Harrison for the San Diego Reader.
I'm sorry -- if they had a raw oyster machine, I could see the possible danger.
But this is another example how we have too many laws, too many lawmakers, and too many people employed to stop things that aren't actually endangering anyone.
Harrison reports:
According to ACE's assistant manager Mark, an inspector from the San Diego County Health Department came into the hardware store a few weeks ago and said the establishment had to stop offering popcorn, as the store didn't have a health permit to serve food. Mark reported that the inspector said her department received a formal complaint about it."We've always been very conscious of cleanliness [of the popcorn machine], said Mark. "We cautioned people not to reach in with their bare hands," he added. While Mark says the inspector was cordial, almost apologetic, her concern was that the popcorn was unattended.
Unattended? Do we think a few kernels might jump out and try to run away?
Oh, maybe they're worried somebody would try to poison everybody. Guess what: All the food in the grocery store and the OTC medicines in a drugstore are largely unattended. So is all the produce. So are those scoopable candies in the containers that people eat/steal while walking around the grocery store.
More from the piece:
ACE employees said they checked into what would was entailed to get a permit to offer free popcorn. "We'd have to have it like a restaurant -- three sinks, food-handler cards, just to serve popcorn," said an ACE supervisor.
Do you like what this country is coming to?
We're now a land of overlegislated weenies.
Oh, and who complains about "illegal popcorn"? My wild guess: The hardware store without the popcorn machine.
I'm surprised free coffee and donuts are still around.
Ppen at January 23, 2015 11:46 PM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2015/01/if-theres-unreg.html#comment-5798482">comment from PpenGood point, Ppen.
Amy Alkon
at January 24, 2015 5:09 AM
While the whole country is going this way, California is definitely in the lead.
Multiple sinks and food handling permits, in order to make popcorn? This is like the "egg licenses" companies have to purchase, to be allowed to cook and serve eggs in their cafeterias.
Bureaucrats: tar, feathers, rail
a_random_guy at January 24, 2015 6:38 AM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2015/01/if-theres-unreg.html#comment-5798763">comment from a_random_guyHave a bake sale, go to jail for crimes against humanity.
Amy Alkon
at January 24, 2015 6:45 AM
Sad that we worry about popcorn machines, but distribute throughout the country foreigners without any health screening.
Bill O Rights at January 24, 2015 7:27 AM
Bureaucrats: tar, feathers, rail
You forget the next three steps. Up righting the rail, piling up scrap wood, and setting it all on fire
lujlp at January 24, 2015 10:32 AM
"I'm surprised free coffee and donuts are still around."
Another health dept. blocked that in a different hardware store in a different town.
Arthur at January 24, 2015 11:22 AM
Bureaucrats: tar, feathers, rail
Some assembly required.
I R A Darth Aggie at January 24, 2015 12:27 PM
Oh, and who complains about "illegal popcorn"? My wild guess: The hardware store without the popcorn machine.
The employee that had to clean it.
Steve Daniels at January 24, 2015 12:45 PM
The free popcorn at my town's free movies in the park will soon end. Les Schwab, are you watching? Your tire shops won't be allowed to give out free popcorn, either! It's one of the few things that make waiting for tires actually bearable.
jefe at January 24, 2015 5:24 PM
I have to wonder how California movie theaters handle popcorn.
Ron at January 24, 2015 5:24 PM
"I have to wonder how California movie theaters handle popcorn."
Well, do your due diligence and look it up. It's public record.
Radwaste at January 25, 2015 4:51 PM
"Oh, and who complains about 'illegal popcorn?'
The employee that had to clean it." - Steve Daniels
I used to work in a movie theatre. Cleaning the popcorn machine was pretty easy. The real problem was the nacho cheese vat.
Fayd at January 26, 2015 9:47 AM
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