Cottage Foods

Missouri Cottage Food Law applies to only non-potentially hazardous processed food, except low acid canned and acidified foods as specified in 21 CFR 113 and 114 respectively, including, but not limited to:

  • Fruit butters

  • Honey

  • Sorghum

  • Cracked nuts

  • Packaged spices and spice mixes

  • Cake

  • Breads

  • Cookies

  • Fruit pies

  • Jams

  • Jellies

  • Preserves

Labeling requirements

Cottage Food Production Operations must label all of their food products properly, which includes specified information on the label of each unit of food product offered or distributed for sale.

All processed packaged foods bear a label stating the:

  • Name and address of the manufacturer/processor preparing the food

  • Common name of the food

  • Name of all the ingredients in the food in order of predominance

  • Net weight of the food in english or metric units

  • A statement that the product is prepared in a kitchen that is not subject to inspection by the department.

It is recommended that honey manufacturers/processors include this additional statement to their product label: "Honey is not recommended for infants less than twelve (12) months of age" and depending on the size of your business, your label must comply with Federal label regulations and with the new nutritional labeling law.

Where may Cottage Food Production Operations sell the food products?

Cottage Food Products may not be sold across state lines.  In other words, only be sold within the state. Individuals can only sell their products directly to consumers, they may be sold directly to the consumer (that allows sales from home and at events); they may be sold directly to the consumer from the home where the products are produced. They may also be sold through farm markets, church bake sales, etc.

Other requirements

  • The seller must be the individual actually producing the food or an immediate family member residing in the producer's household with extensive knowledge about the food.

  • Cottage food operations can sell up to $50,000 of products per year.

  • If the foods are sold, sampled or served in unpackaged, individual portions, the consumer must be informed by a clearly visible placard at the sales or service location that the food is prepared in a kitchen that is not subject to inspection by the health department

  • County and municipal governments may enact health ordinances that are more restrictive than state ordinances, but not less restrictive. In Missouri, the requirements vary by county.

The health department shall have the final authority in determining whether a food is non-potentially hazardous and may enjoin individuals who violate the provisions of this subparagraph from selling, sampling or serving these foods.

Recommendations:

Beyond the requirements, common sense, good practices and reducing liability suggests you should do the following record keeping.

Keep a written record of every batch of product made for sale, including:

  • ​Recipe, including procedures and ingredients

  • Amount canned and sold

  • Canning date

  • Sale dates and locations

  • Gross sales receipts

  • Results of any pH test

Sanitation

Although inspections are not required, you should consider doing the following:

  • ​Use clean equipment that has been effectively sanitized prior to use

  • Clean work surfaces and then sanitize with bleach water before and after use

  • Keep ingredients separate from other unprocessed foods

  • Keep household pets out of the work area

  • Keep walls and floors clean

  • Have adequate lighting

  • Keep window and door screens in good repair to keep insects out

  • Wash hands frequently while working

  • Consider annual testing of water if using a private well

Best Practices

Allergens:  Most state home baking acts require an "ingredient statement" and/or an "allergen listing" on the label of the bakery item for sale; but if your state does not, you should anyway.

The major food allergens are:

    • Milk

    • Eggs

    • Fish

    • Crustacean shellfish

    • Tree nuts

    • Peanuts

    • Wheat

    • Soybean

    • Sesame seeds

 

If you have questions, please call us at (636) 528-6117 and press 2 

View current food inspection reports here.

 

Last Updated 8/1/23