Why does the department regulate custom processors?
State law makes no distinction between commercial and custom processing. By permitting the high-risk custom processors, we can ensure they are following the same safety standards as other commercial processors. After all, if there was a food-borne illness from a custom processed seafood product, the economic fallout would affect all Alaska processors. Also, if we did not permit custom processors, anyone with a home canner or smoker could set up shop, whether they knew what they were doing or not.
