Unfortunately this issue must be raised in today's world.  What about
displaying hardtack in such a way that the kiddos can handle it, but not
take it out of the ---box or whatever--- and then passing out recipes for
hardtack with a disclaimer re: the eatibility of the product thus created?
THis alternative is not nearly as satisfying, but it may be a lot safer
regarding liability.

Laura West
Historian & Archeologist

M&S Engineering, Ltd.
P.O. Box 970
28755 Hwy. 46 West
Spring Branch, Texas 78070
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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

-----Original Message-----
From: David Harvey [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 12:49 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Looking for hard tack


Just one observation on this thread. What are the liability issues invovled
in preparing your own foods and serving those to the public, especially to
school kids?

I know that it is the policy of the Denver Public schools, for instance,
that
no home prepared cookies or foods are permitted to be served in school other
than that which the kids bring in for their own lunches. When parents have
been asked to provide foods they have to be commercial brands and in
unopened
containers.

When I was at Colonial Williamsburg the foodways programs there were not
permitted to let the public taste any of the foods that they prepared in
their
demonstrations on account of liability concerns - even though visitors even
offered to pay for a taste.

So I think that a distinction has to be made between the legalities of
preparing a period foodway and serving it among re-enactors or staff and
preparing a
period foodway for consumption for the public or even a segment of the
public.

One case of food poisioning, however remote the possibility, could literally
ruin an institution overnight.

Of course in conservation we encourage the use of "faux foods" for use
exhibits and historic buildings - and we had great fun manufacturing period
foods
with synthetic materials! (a great intern project by the way!)

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Artifacts
2930 South Birch Street
Denver, CO  80222
303-300-5257
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