A Nova Scotia mother who was initially told she couldn't breastfeed her son while selling food at several local farmers' markets has received an apology from the province's department of agriculture.

Dartmouth resident and Food Noise owner Tanessa Holt said that she received the apology days after a food safety inspector told her she couldn’t sell her products while nursing her son.

"I am happy to receive an apology, because I thought it was outrageous to begin with," she told CTVNews.ca.

Holt has been selling dry food items, including granola and oatmeal, at several markets in the Halifax area since last August.

She said she got an email from a provincial food safety inspector earlier this week, telling her she should not be breastfeeding and handling food at the same time.

"I have no problem with you breastfeeding at the booth, as long as there is another person (ex. an employee) that is at the booth with you who can serve food to the customers," the food safety specialist wrote, noting concerns that the baby’s vomit or feces could potentially contaminate the food.

Holt explained that her food is served in containers, that she uses gloves and a nearby hand washing station, and that she covers up while nursing. Still, she was told that she would have to get another person to handle the food if she is breastfeeding her son.

Because that was not a feasible option, Holt said, she had decided to pull out of the farmers’ markets altogether.

In the apology, the department said the message from the food safety inspector was a "misunderstanding," and Holt was welcome to breastfeed her son at the market, if she followed proper hand-washing procedures.

Barry MacGregor, the province's food protection director, told CTVNews.ca that he felt it necessary to personally Holt to apologize for the error, which he chalks up to the era of "quick replies."

"It was an unfortunate misunderstanding, that's why I felt it necessary to call the operator myself," he said. He stressed that nursing mothers are welcome to sell food products at markets, so long as they adhere to hygiene protocol.

Holt said the food safety department initially contacted her after someone at the market made an inquiry about food handling guidelines.

She said she checked with market organizers and food safety officials about bringing her son to the booth before she started selling at the market.

Now, even with the OK from the province, Holt said she's not sure if she'll return to selling her products at the markets. Instead, she'll focus on opening up a store.