# Cottage food label requirements in Alaska

> Informational only, not legal or food-safety advice. Verify with Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Environmental Health, Food Safety and Sanitation Program before printing labels. Last checked 2026-08-05.

## What goes on the label

1. The product name, in words a customer would use.
2. Every ingredient, heaviest first.
3. The major allergens, called out separately from the ingredient list.
4. Who made it: your name or your business name.
5. How to reach you.
6. The date it was made.

## The required statement

As published for Alaska:

> This food was made in a home kitchen, is not regulated or inspected, except for meat and meat products, and may contain allergens.

Published as fixed text: reproduce it exactly.

## Other requirements

- Retail space signage (not a package label): a sign prominently displayed indicating that the homemade food was made in a home kitchen, may contain allergens, and is not, except for permitted meat and meat products, regulated or inspected.

## Detail

This is the Homemade Food Rule (HB 251, 2024), codified at AS 17.20.332 - 17.20.338. It replaced the older, narrower cottage food exemption, so any guidance quoting "THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO STATE INSPECTION" or an Alaska Business License number alone is describing the superseded scheme. AS 17.20.332(e) is fixed statutory text introduced by "the statement:" and enclosed in quotation marks, so reproduce it exactly, including the two commas around "except for meat and meat products". Packaged food must also carry the producer's name, current address, telephone number, and, if applicable, business license number. No registration or permit is required and no permit number goes on the label. For UNPACKAGED food there is no label; the seller must instead tell the buyer the food was prepared under AS 17.20.332-17.20.338 and is not subject to certain state certification, labeling, licensing, packaging, regulation or inspection requirements, and give them the same producer contact details. Sales are in-state only, no interstate commerce. Homemade food may not be shelved or displayed alongside inspected food.

## Sources

- Authority: Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Environmental Health, Food Safety and Sanitation Program
- Rule: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/33?Hsid=HB0251C