Government Shuts Down 11-Year-Old's Cupcake Business
A budding entrepreneur in Illinois had her business featured by local press. That's when the trouble started.
By Ray Hennessey •
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
An 11-year-old girl from Illinois got a dose of regulation American-style this week when local government officials shut down her cupcake business.
Chloe Stirling, from Troy, got the front-page treatment from her local newspaper, which featured how well her business, Hey, Cupcake, was doing. By all accounts, it was a successful little enterprise. Chloe was getting $10 for a dozen cupcakes and $2 for each specialty cupcake. She even donated her cupcakes when a boy in her school fighting cancer held a fundraiser.
Heartwarming? Yes. A great example of the entrepreneurial possibilities inherent in American capitalism? You betcha.
A danger to society? Apparently so.
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Seeing the article prompted local regulators to swoop in and shut her down. The Madison County Health Department told her she could no longer make or sell cupcakes because she lacks a permit. That runs afoul of the Madison County food ordinance and Illinois' food-santitation code. Oh, and her kitchen itself wasn't licensed either.
The health department said it was only following the law, which applies to everyone, from big bakeries to sweet, detertmined young women who might have their dreams crushed from time to time.
The dessert eaters of Madison County can no doubt sleep soundly tonight, knowing their health is protected.
