Published: June 26, 2007 04:04 pm      

Let troops decide — 06/27/07

Airport overreacts in declaring homemade goodies off limits

Chalk up another worthy project that has fallen victim to our litigious society: Cookies, fudge and other homemade goodies for the troops passing through Bangor International Airport in Maine, either going to or coming from Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to the Associated Press, since 2003 volunteers known as the Maine Troop Greeters have been welcoming troops coming through the airport with homemade cookies, brownies, fudge and other assorted treats like strawberries and Girl Scout cookies. The airport even allocated a room to the volunteers, who have welcomed almost 500,000 troops as a way to show support and thanks.

However, the room was provided before airport authorities became concerned about liability issues and the fact that the homemade goodies were not under the same “strict regulations on food preparation, temperature control and handling” that govern the airport’s concessionaires, the AP reported.

While we certainly can understand the fear of being sued, we think banning the practice is an overreaction. Here in Kentucky, food that is sold is held to higher standards than that which is given away. That’s why Sister Bertha’s famous banana pudding and Brother Hank’s delicious homemade apple pie are favorites at a church’s potluck dinner but banned at dinners for which the church charges.

We say let the troops decide. Tell the soldiers that the cookies and other goodies offered them by the Troop Greeters have been made in the volunteers’ own kitchens, free of any federal, state or local supervision, and that, even though almost a half-million of their fellow soldiers have eaten them without harm, the troops do so at their own risk.

Once informed, we suspect most soldiers not only will decide to partake of the goodies but will appreciate that some thoughtful strangers have made the arrivals a bit merrier and their departures a little less sad. After all, for those either returning from a year or more in a war zone or heading into battle, we suspect eating a piece of fudge from someone’s kitchen does not sound all that risky.