Cake Ban
Dundee School Fun Days Cake Ban
DUNDEE CITY Council has risked a bun fight after banning home baking stalls from school fun days because they are a “health threat.”
The cake stall has been a mainstay of school fun days and other events for decades and the lure of home baking has raised tens of thousands of pounds for school funds and other good causes over the years.
However, concerns about hygiene and allergies have consigned the stall to history.
The council’s ban emerged when parents of pupils at Barnhill Primary had letters about the end-of-term fun day, which takes place on Saturday.
It said there would be no home-made treats for sale, thanks to the council’s edict.
One parent with children at the school said he believed the council is taking the concept of a “nanny state” too far.
“It is a piece of nonsense,” he said. “We got a letter from Barnhill Primary School saying that, in accordance with health and safety, there would no cake stall.”
He added the school will lose out financially.
“All the money from the cake stall used to go to school funds. I think they made about £200 last year,” he said.
“It looks like the city council education department are being over-protective and are frightened a child might choke on a piece of tablet but I think it’s ridiculous.”
“A lot of parents used to bake and their children would help them, too.”
The council was criticised last year after a teacher at Downfield Primary refused to let her primary one class celebrate Hallowe’en, allegedly because of her religious sensibilities.
It emerged teachers in six of the school’s classes had chosen not to allow Hallowe’en events.
A spokesman for Dundee City Council confirmed home baking is no longer to be sold at any school event in the city.
He said, “Head teachers have been issued with advice not to sell home-made foodstuffs at events organised by the school.”
He said the decision was made on health and safety grounds.
The Food Standards Agency has no problem with home baking. It says it is safe to eat, if bakers follow basic hygiene rules and ensure their cakes are stored and transported safely.
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