KOREAN RICE CAKES EXEMPT FROM REFRIGERATION LAW GOV. DAVIS WILL SIGN NEW LAW TO PRESERVE A CENTURIES-OLD CULTURAL TRADITION.Byline: Chris Rizo Staff Writer SACRAMENTO - Gov. Gray Davis is expected to sign legislation today to protect traditional Korean rice cakes from what he called an ``overzealous o·ver·zeal·ous adj. Excessively enthusiastic: overzealous movie fans; an overzealous manager. o bureaucracy'' in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County. The new law, which would take effect immediately, will protect more than 30 bakeries and small businesses in Los Angeles from the county's ``sudden, incomprehensible'' ban on unrefrigerated rice cakes, said the bill's author, Assemblywoman Carol Liu, D-La Canada Flintridge. ``The Korean rice cake is part of a centuries-old tradition and has great cultural and economic value in the Korean community,'' Davis said in a written statement. Bakers complained that refrigerating re·frig·er·ate tr.v. re·frig·er·at·ed, re·frig·er·at·ing, re·frig·er·ates 1. To cool or chill (a substance). 2. To preserve (food) by chilling. the cakes made them inedible and caused the loss of nearly 70 percent of their business, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Korean Rice Cake Association. The cakes of steamed white rice are usually stuffed with nuts, fruit or seeds. Under the new law, Korean rice cakes can be sold unrefrigerated as long as they have not been at room temperature for more than 24 hours and contain no animal products. ``This bill allows many small businesses to continue making and distributing a product that is part of their cultural heritage,'' Liu said. Earlier this year, fears that unrefrigerated rice cakes could cause food poisoning food poisoning, acute illness following the eating of foods contaminated by bacteria, bacterial toxins, natural poisons, or harmful chemical substances. It was once customary to classify all such illnesses as "ptomaine poisoning," but it was later discovered that prompted county health inspectors A health inspector, or Environmental Health Specialist is a public employee who investigates health hazards in a wide variety of locations, then will take action to mitigate or eliminate the hazards. to confiscate To expropriate private property for public use without compensating the owner under the authority of the Police Power of the government. To seize property. When property is confiscated it is transferred from private to public use, usually for reasons such as hundreds of cakes from Asian bakeries, sparking an outcry in the Korean community. ``The health department has not been unreasonable or acted outside of the law,'' said Terrance Powell, chief county environmental health officer. Although the health department must be attentive to public health issues, Liu said its concerns in this case are groundless. ``There just isn't any need for the ordinance,'' Liu said. ``I am glad the governor is helping protect the bakers.'' Liu decided to hammer out the legislation after negotiations fizzled between bakers and county officials. Korean immigrants first brought the confections to Los Angeles more than 30 years ago. Since then, there has never been a documented case of food poisoning caused by unrefrigerated cakes, county health officials said. |
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