Cottage Food Labeling Requirements: Plain English Guide for All 50 States

Selling jam at the farmers market or cookies through your home kitchen? Every state has cottage food laws — and most of them have specific labeling requirements. Get it wrong and you risk fines, product seizure, or being shut down at your next market.

This guide breaks down what you need to know, state by state, in plain English.

What Is Cottage Food?

Cottage food refers to food products made in a residential kitchen and sold directly to consumers. The specific rules vary dramatically by state: what products are allowed, how much you can sell per year, where you can sell, and what your labels must say.

Most states allow low-risk, shelf-stable items: baked goods, jams and jellies, candy, dried herbs, granola. Some states have expanded their lists considerably. A few still have very restrictive laws.

The Universal Label Requirements (Most States)

While every state has its own rules, most require some version of these elements:

What almost every state requires:

• Product name — what it is ("Strawberry Jam", "Chocolate Chip Cookies")
• Net weight or volume — how much is in the package
• Ingredients list — in descending order by weight
• Allergen statement — the Big 9 (milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, sesame)
• Your name and address — as the producer
• "Made in a Home Kitchen" statement — exact wording varies by state

That last one is the big differentiator from commercial food labels. Almost every state requires some version of this disclosure, often in specific language set by law.

State-by-State Highlights

California

California's Homemade Food Operations law (AB 1616) is one of the most permissive. You must include: product name, ingredients, allergens, net weight, your name and address, and the statement: "Made in a Home Kitchen. Not Inspected by the State or Local Health Department."

Annual gross sales cap: $75,000.

Texas

Texas requires: product name, ingredients, net weight, your name and address, and: "Made in a home kitchen that is not licensed or inspected by the state or a local health department."

No annual sales cap for direct sales. Online and third-party delivery allowed.

Florida

Florida's Cottage Food Law requires the statement: "Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations."

Must include product name, ingredients, net weight, your name and address, and allergen info.

New York

New York has a more complex system. Requires: product name, ingredients, your name and address, net weight, and: "Produced at a registered food processing establishment that may not meet all New York State requirements."

Illinois

Illinois Cottage Food Operation Law: requires product name, ingredients, allergens, net weight, your name and address, and: "This product was produced in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Illinois Department of Agriculture or the Department of Public Health."

Tennessee

Tennessee requires the statement: "This product was made in a home kitchen that has not been licensed or inspected by the Department of Agriculture." Plus standard product name, ingredients, net weight, and contact info.

The Allergen Statement: Don't Skip This

The Big 9 allergens must be declared on every food label, including cottage food. These are:

• Milk
• Eggs
• Fish
• Crustacean shellfish
• Tree nuts
• Peanuts
• Wheat
• Soybeans
• Sesame (added in 2023)

You can declare allergens either in the ingredients list ("enriched flour (wheat)") or in a separate "Contains:" statement ("Contains: wheat, eggs, milk").

If you make products in a kitchen where allergens are present — even if not in that product — many states require a "may contain" advisory.

What Cottage Food Labels Do NOT Need (Usually)

Unless your state specifically requires it:

• Nutrition facts panel
• FDA registration number
• Bar code
• Lot number (though it's a good idea for traceability)

Label Format Tips

You don't need a fancy professional printer to start. But your label does need to be:

• Legible — font large enough to read
• Permanent — won't rub off or fall off
• In English (plus any other language you choose)

If you're producing more than a few dozen units at a time, hand-labeling becomes a bottleneck fast. A semi-automatic labeler like the Zap Labeler can apply labels consistently at 30–60 containers per minute — a big upgrade from peeling stickers by hand, and it ensures every label goes on straight.

How to Find Your State's Exact Requirements

1. Search "[Your State] cottage food law" — most states have a department of agriculture page
2. Look for the specific label language requirements — it's usually in the law text itself
3. When in doubt, contact your state's department of agriculture directly

Resources:

• CottageFoodLaws.com — state-by-state summaries updated regularly
• NCAT's Sustainable Agriculture Research — has cottage food guides for many states
• Your state's Department of Agriculture website

A Note on Selling Beyond Your State

If you want to sell online and ship across state lines, cottage food exemptions don't apply. You'd be subject to federal FDA regulations. Most cottage food operators stay within direct-to-consumer sales in their home state for exactly this reason.

Bottom Line

Cottage food laws are mostly favorable for small producers — they exist to let you sell your homemade products without becoming a licensed food manufacturer. The main compliance requirement is usually just the label disclosure statement and standard ingredient/allergen info.

Get your labels right from day one. It protects you legally, builds customer trust, and shows you're running a real business — not just a hobby.

How We Can Help You

Once your labels are compliant, getting them on consistently is the next challenge. Zap Labeler's semi-automatic machines are a practical fit for cottage producers who've outgrown hand-labeling but don't need an industrial line. Compact footprint, no special electrical, and works with standard label rolls.

See our semi-automatic labeling machines