Missouri cottage food law

The rules at a glance

Missouri Cottage Law

• Unattended honesty stand?

  Not addressed

  The law doesn't mention unattended stands. Ask your local health agency.

• Sign up with the state?

  No

  No permit or license is required.

  Source

  • There is no food permit or license for cottage food production operationsMissouri DHSS: Home-Based Kitchen Food Production Guidance (PDF)
  • A cottage food production operation is not a food service establishment and shall not be subject to any health or food code laws or regulations of the state or department other than this sectionMissouri Revised Statutes 196.298: Cottage food production operation

• Food safety class?

  No

  No food safety class is required under the Cottage Law.

  Source

  • A cottage food production operation is not a food service establishment and is not subject to any health or food code laws or regulations of the state or local health authoritiesMissouri DHSS: Home-Based Kitchen Food Production Guidance (PDF)

• Kitchen inspection?

  No

  No routine checks. A foodborne outbreak can still be investigated.

  Source

  • for sale to the public without being subject to routine inspectionMissouri DHSS: Home-Based Kitchen Food Production Guidance (PDF)
  • nothing prohibits authority of state or local health departments to conduct an investigation of a foodborne disease or outbreakMissouri DHSS: Home-Based Kitchen Food Production Guidance (PDF)
  • A local health department shall not regulate the production of food at a cottage food production operationMissouri Revised Statutes 196.298: Cottage food production operation

• Yearly sales limit

  No limit

  No yearly cap. There is no limit on how much you can sell.

  Source

  • There is no longer a limit to how much a cottage food producer can make annuallyMissouri DHSS: Home-Based Kitchen Food Production Guidance (PDF)

• Foods that need a fridge?

  No

  Only baked goods, canned jams or jellies, and dried herbs.

  Source

  • The Missouri Cottage Law is very specific that baked goods, canned jams or jellies, and dried herb and dried herb mixes are the only items that can be prepared out of the individuals' homeMissouri DHSS: Home-Based Kitchen Food Production Guidance (PDF)
  • If a food is potentially hazardous, it is no longer considered a cottage food productMissouri DHSS: Home-Based Kitchen Food Production Guidance (PDF)

• Take orders online?

  Sometimes

  Only if you and the buyer are both in Missouri.

  Source

  • A cottage food production operation shall not sell any foods described in this section through the internet unless both the cottage food production operation and the purchaser are located in this stateMissouri Revised Statutes 196.298: Cottage food production operation
  • a cottage food producer can sell their product online as long as both the producer and purchaser are located within MissouriMissouri DHSS: Home-Based Kitchen Food Production Guidance (PDF)

• Ship or mail orders?

  Not addressed

  The law doesn't address shipping. No sales across state lines.

  Source

  • A cottage food producer may not sell their products across state linesMissouri DHSS: Home-Based Kitchen Food Production Guidance (PDF)

• Sell through shops?

  No

  Direct to customers only. Wholesale falls outside the Cottage Law.

  Source

  • Sells the food produced under paragraph (a) of this subdivision only directly to consumersMissouri Revised Statutes 196.298: Cottage food production operation
  • Foods produced under the Missouri Cottage Law are to be sold directly to the end consumer. If foods are to be wholesaled, they no longer are exempted by the Missouri Cottage LawMissouri DHSS: Home-Based Kitchen Food Production Guidance (PDF)

What goes on the label