Home kitchen and cottage food label rules, province by province and state by state
Every province, territory and state asks a home kitchen label to carry roughly the same things: what it is, what is in it, what could hurt someone, who made it, how to reach them, when it was made, and usually a line saying the kitchen is not inspected. Only that last line really changes. This page is a directory of who to ask and where their rules live.
The seven things a label carries, wherever you are
- What it is. The product name, in words a customer would use.
- What is in it. Every ingredient, heaviest first.
- What could hurt someone. The major allergens, called out separately.
- Who made it. Your name or your business name.
- How to reach you. An email, a phone number or an address.
- When it was made. So a customer can judge how fresh it is.
- That your kitchen is not inspected. The wording your authority publishes. This is the one that changes by region, and in 11 of the 61 we have read there is no such line to print at all, usually because the kitchen is inspected.
Canada
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Alberta
“This food is prepared in a home kitchen that is not subject to inspection.”
Wording close to this is fine · plus “This food is not for resale.”. Ask Alberta Health Services, Environmental Public Health.
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British Columbia
“THIS FOOD HAS BEEN PREPARED IN A KITCHEN THAT IS NOT INSPECTED BY A REGULATORY AUTHORITY.”
Wording close to this is fine. Ask your regional health authority's environmental health officer.
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Manitoba
No "not inspected" line is required. Manitoba publishes no such wording, so there is nothing you have to print.
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New Brunswick
No "not inspected" line is required. New Brunswick publishes no such wording, so there is nothing you have to print.
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Newfoundland and Labrador
No "not inspected" line is required. Newfoundland and Labrador publishes no such wording, so there is nothing you have to print.
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Northwest Territories
No "not inspected" line is required. The kitchen is inspected before any sale, so there is nothing to disclaim.
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Nova Scotia
No "not inspected" line is required. Nova Scotia publishes no such wording, so there is nothing you have to print.
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Nunavut
“Prepared in a home kitchen that is not subject to inspection.”
Must be at least 12 point type · wording close to this is fine · plus “NOT FOR RESALE”. Ask Environmental Health Officers, Department of Health, Government of Nunavut.
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Ontario
No "not inspected" line is required. The kitchen is inspected before any sale, so there is nothing to disclaim.
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Prince Edward Island
No "not inspected" line is required. Prince Edward Island publishes no such wording, so there is nothing you have to print.
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Quebec
No "not inspected" line is required. The kitchen is inspected before any sale, so there is nothing to disclaim.
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Saskatchewan
“Made in a Home Kitchen That is Not Inspected by a Government Agency”
Must be at least 12 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask Saskatchewan Health Authority public health inspectors.
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Yukon NOT CONFIRMED
Nobody has confirmed Yukon's wording against the source, so we are not printing one. Ask Environmental Health Services, Government of Yukon, #2 Hospital Road, Whitehorse what they expect.
Their page
United States
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Alabama
“This food is not inspected by the Health Department.”
Must be at least 10 point type · wording close to this is fine · 1 further requirement on their page. Ask your county health department.
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Alaska
“This food was made in a home kitchen, is not regulated or inspected, except for meat and meat products, and may contain allergens.”
Reproduce it exactly · 1 further requirement on their page. Ask Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Environmental Health, Food Safety and Sanitation Program.
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Arizona
“This product was produced in a home kitchen that may come in contact with common food allergens and pet allergens and is not subject to public health inspection”
Reproduce it exactly · plus “To obtain additional information about cottage foods or to report a foodborne illness, go to azdhs.gov/Cottagefood” · 1 further requirement on their page. Ask Arizona Department of Health Services.
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Arkansas
“This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens.”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask Arkansas Department of Health.
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California
“Made in a Home Kitchen”
Must be at least 12 point type · reproduce it exactly · 2 further requirements on their page. Ask your county environmental health department.
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Colorado
“This product was produced in a home kitchen that is not subject to state licensure or inspection and that may also process common food allergens such as tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, soy, wheat, milk, fish, and crustacean shellfish. This product is not intended for resale.”
Reproduce it exactly · 1 further requirement on their page. Ask Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
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Connecticut
“Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection.”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
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Delaware
“This food is made in a Cottage Food Establishment and is NOT subject to routine Government Food Safety Inspections”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Office of Food Protection. Statewide.
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District of Columbia
“Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to the District of Columbia's food safety regulations”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask DC Health.
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Florida
“Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations.”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
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Georgia
“MADE IN A COTTAGE FOOD OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO STATE FOOD SAFETY INSPECTIONS”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask Georgia Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Division.
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Hawaii
“Made in a home kitchen not routinely inspected by the Department of Health”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask Hawaii Department of Health, Food Safety Branch.
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Idaho
“This product is not subject to government food safety inspection or licensing requirements. It may contain allergens.”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask your local Idaho public health district.
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Illinois
“This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens. If you have safety concerns, contact your local health department.”
Reproduce it exactly · 1 further requirement on their page. Ask your local.
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Indiana
“This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Indiana Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE.”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask Indiana Department of Health, Food Protection Division, with county/city local health departments doing the on-the-ground checking.
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Iowa
“This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state licensing and inspection.”
Reproduce it exactly · 2 further requirements on their page. Ask Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.
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Kansas NOT CONFIRMED
Nobody has confirmed Kansas's wording against the source, so we are not printing one. Ask Kansas Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Lodging Program what they expect.
Their page
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Kentucky
“This product is home-produced and processed.”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly · 2 further requirements on their page. Ask Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Public Health, Food Safety Branch.
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Louisiana
“This food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility.”
Wording close to this is fine. Ask Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of Sanitarian Services.
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Maine
No "not inspected" line is required. The kitchen is inspected before any sale, so there is nothing to disclaim.
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Maryland
“Made by a cottage food business that is not subject to Maryland's food safety regulations.”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask Maryland Department of Health, Office of Food Protection.
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Massachusetts NOT CONFIRMED
Nobody has confirmed Massachusetts's wording against the source, so we are not printing one. Ask your city or town board of health what they expect.
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Michigan
“Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan department of agriculture and rural development.”
Must be at least 11 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
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Minnesota
“These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection.”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
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Mississippi
“Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations.”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask Mississippi State Department of Health, Food Protection Division.
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Missouri
“This food is not inspected by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services or the local health department.”
Wording close to this is fine. Ask Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
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Montana
“Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to retail food establishment regulations or inspections.”
Must be at least 11 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask your county or tribal environmental health office.
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Nebraska
“This food was prepared in a kitchen that is not subject to regulation and inspection by the regulatory authority and may contain allergens.”
Wording close to this is fine. Ask Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
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Nevada
“MADE IN A COTTAGE FOOD OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO ROUTINE GOVERNMENT FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask your county or regional health authority — Southern Nevada Health District.
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New Hampshire
“This product is exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection.”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Food Protection Section.
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New Jersey
“This food is prepared pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Department of Health.”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask New Jersey Department of Health, Cottage Food Operator program.
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New Mexico
“This product is home produced and is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens.”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask New Mexico Environment Department.
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New York
“Made in a Home Kitchen”
Wording close to this is fine. Ask New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of Food Safety and Inspection.
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North Carolina
No "not inspected" line is required. The kitchen is inspected before any sale, so there is nothing to disclaim.
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North Dakota
“This product is made in a home kitchen that is not inspected by the state or local health department.”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Lodging Division.
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Ohio
“This Product is Home Produced.”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Food Safety.
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Oklahoma
“This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from government licensing and inspection.”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly · 2 further requirements on their page. Ask Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.
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Oregon
“This product is homemade, is not prepared in an inspected food establishment, and must be stored and displayed separately if merchandised by a retailer.”
Reproduce it exactly · 2 further requirements on their page. Ask Oregon Department of Agriculture.
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Pennsylvania
No "not inspected" line is required. The kitchen is inspected before any sale, so there is nothing to disclaim.
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Rhode Island
“Made by a Cottage Food Business Registrant that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask Rhode Island Department of Health.
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South Carolina
“PROCESSED AND PREPARED BY A HOME-BASED FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS.”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
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South Dakota
“This product was not produced in a commercial kitchen. It has been home-processed in a kitchen that may also process common food allergens such as tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, soy, wheat, milk, fish and crustacean shellfish.”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Health Protection / Food Service Program.
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Tennessee
“This product was produced at a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens.”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Food Safety.
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Texas
“THIS PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED IN A PRIVATE RESIDENCE THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENTAL LICENSING OR INSPECTION.”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask Texas Department of State Health Services.
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Utah
“Not for Resale – Processed and prepared without the benefit of state or local inspection”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
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Vermont
“Made in a home kitchen not inspected by the Vermont Department of Health”
Must be at least 10 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask Vermont Department of Health, Food & Lodging Program.
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Virginia
“NOT FOR RESALE — PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION”
Reproduce it exactly · 1 further requirement on their page. Ask Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
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Washington
“Made in a Home Kitchen that has not been subject to standard inspection criteria”
Must be at least 11 point type · reproduce it exactly. Ask Washington State Department of Agriculture.
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West Virginia
“This product was made in a non-commercial kitchen that may not be subject to inspection and may contain cross-contact allergens not included in the allergen statement.”
Reproduce it exactly. Ask West Virginia Department of Agriculture.
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Wisconsin
“This product was made in a private home not subject to state licensing or inspection.”
Reproduce it exactly · 1 further requirement on their page. Ask Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
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Wyoming
“this food was made in a home kitchen, is not regulated or inspected and may contain allergens”
Reproduce it exactly · 2 further requirements on their page. Ask Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Consumer Health Services.