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SALT LAKE CITY — Bloggers, canners and home preparedness hobbyists have been stirred up over the last couple months regarding claims that USDA regulations are interfering with home storage centers operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
The church said Monday, however, that those concerns were "unnecessary," though the church announced Monday that self-canning will now only be offered in 12 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
"No home storage centers are being closed, but the Church is making welcomed modifications in its operations at most of these centers that will help to better serve the needs of members of the Church, as well as significantly improve efficiency," the Church said in a statement.
Blogger Kellene Bishop wrote a lengthy post detailing what she considers to be government intervention in the management of these home storage centers, which in the past would often provide the equipment and materials needed to for volunteers to can bulk food items for long-term storage.
Related:
New LDS Bishop's Central Storehouse opens for business
Welfare and humanitarian work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints just got a boost with a new 570,000 square foot Bishop's Central Storehouse at 5405 W. 300 South."LDS Canneries 'east of the Mississippi' will no longer be canning any food at their facilities beginning as early as June 27th, 2013, as they are no longer able to justify the abhorrent costs to keep in compliance with the ever-changing criteria set forth by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration," Bishop wrote.
She goes on to anonymously quote several people upset over the changes, one of who calls it a "baby step in the government taking control."
The church said that such regulations were not the whole story.
"Much of the discussion regarding this issue has suggested that this change is due to food safety regulation," the release states. "While it has been a factor, the concern expressed regarding that issue has been overstated."
Several other reasons are cited for the changes, including increased efficiency, reduced cost, decreased warehouse space, improved quality and better use of volunteers' time.
Locations that will continue canning are located in Utah, Texas, Idaho, Arizona and Alberta, Canada. A list of all home storage centers can be found here
