OILDALE, Calif. -- Charities may often sell homemade food to raise funds, but they still fall under food safety laws. Kern County officials say they will work with groups to meet the regulations but stress the safety rules are important to protect the public's health.

The question was raised by a viewer's call the the Eyewitness News tipline about candy being sold in front of the Von's grocery store on North Chester Avenue in Oildale.

The woman sitting in front with a basket of peanut brittle said the candy was made at the Apostolic Christian Academy, and the funds support their programs.

"For the church, for the foundation, and for the kids to have fun," Mercy Mbugua said Wednesday morning. She had baggies with two peanut brittle patties inside, and was selling them for $3 each.

"I consider it a way of helping in the community," Donna Cunningham said, after buying some candy on her way out of the store. "She takes the time to be out here all day long, and it's good."

She wasn't worried about health regulations, but Public Health director Matt Constantine says the rules are important and still apply to charities.

"To ensure the safety of the public," Constantine told Eyewitness News. "Food-borne illnesses are very common. We have 75 million cases of food-borne illnesses every year in the United States."

Constantine said even if the peanut brittle was prepared in the church kitchen, most churches are not prepared to meet the legal and safety requirements for sales to the public.

"Food needs to be made in an approved kitchen, with approved personnel that have been trained appropriately so we can make sure it's safe to eat," he said.

Asked whether these safety rules apply to things like church or school bake-sales, Constantine said that depends on the circumstances.

"If it is just to members and guests of an event, there are some exceptions to laws that allow these to occur," Constantine said. "On a limited event."

The caller to Eyewitness News also wondered about requirements for a list of ingredients on home-made food. Constantine said that is still important.

"It's a secondary issue," Constantine said. "Not only for an allergy-response kind of issue, but just for general knowledge about what you're eating."

Mbugua said the candy contains only peanuts, sugar, syrup, salt and baking soda. She's been selling the candy for about two months.

"I'm originally from Kenya," she said. "I came here for school and for missionary (work)."

"This is a good cause," the health director said -- especially during the holidays. "But food-borne pathogens and bacteria that cause illnesses, they don't understand that. So it's important that we apply these rules, no matter when or where."

Constantine said inspectors would check with the woman selling the candy in Oildale, and try to find ways the sales can meet the laws. He said the department will work with any local organizations.

"We would in most cases work with these individuals, try to find an appropriate kitchen that she could use to do this safely, that we could inspect and ensure that it's done under sanitary conditions."

Constantine said any group can call the Environmental Health Department at 862-8700 to get help and advice on food-sale fund raising. And he said there are facilities that can be used to prepare food safely for sale to the public.

"They can come in and actually rent a portion of the kitchen, or rent a section of a kitchen," Constantine said. "Either in a place that has a permit, or there's even businesses that have been established to accommodate people just like her. There are some options out there, we just want to work through it."

Eyewitness News put in calls to the Apostolic Christian Academy, but had not heard back by late Wednesday.