Controversial ban blocking WI members from baking cakes at home unless their kitchens are approved by health and safety inspectors is lifted

• The Loros hospice was banned from accepting donated baked goods in February
• Only goods made at a registered address could be accepted by the hospice
• After recognising a confusion over ‘minor details’ the ban has since been lifted 

A controversial ban on Women Institute (WI) members baking cakes for a hospice over health and safety rules has been lifted.

Loros hospice, in Leicestershire, stopped accepting home-baked cakes in May because council rules said food had to come from a registered kitchen.

The ban began after Leicester City Council food safety experts inspected the kitchen of the Loros hospice in Leicester in February and told staff about the regulations.

Women’s Institute members had been stopped from baking cakes for Loros Hospice in  Leicestershire due to health and safety rules

Loros could only accept cakes and pastries from people who had baked them in registered kitchens which had received a council food safety rating

John Knight, from the charity which cares for terminally ill people, said there had been ‘confusion’ over minor details that had now been resolved.

The initial council ruling was based on the assumption that the cakes were coming from one or two bakers regularly, which would mean their kitchens would need to be inspected and registered for complying with health and safety rules.    

However, Leicestershire City Council has now learnt that many WI members who baked cakes for the charity did so infrequently and therefore had no need for a hygiene certificate.

The ban has since been overturned meaning volunteers are free to send their baked marvels in to be enjoyed by members of the hospice

Mr Knight said: ‘There was some confusion as to the minor details surrounding the WI regularly baking for us but thankfully, after investigation the initial decision was overturned.’

The ban had upset WI members in Leicestershire, many of whom bake cakes for the charity. Following the decision, the hospice has launched a campaign encouraging people to raise money for the charity by baking.   

Janet Kirk, chairwoman of Leicestershire and Rutland WI, said: ‘Our members are delighted to resume baking for Loros, a special place in so many of our members’ lives.’

The Loros hospice was first registered in 1977. The hospice is one of the biggest charities of its kind in the UK. Each year it cares for 2,500 people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

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