What a Cottage Food Label Tells You as a Buyer

Published ยท Health and wellness

Cookies from a farmers market, a birthday cake from a neighbor and a jar of jam from a church sale often come from a home kitchen. In most states, those foods must carry a label or a sign that tells the buyer who made them, what is in them and that the kitchen is not inspected like a commercial bakery. Knowing what to look for helps buyers make informed choices, especially when someone in the household has a food allergy.

Note: This article is general information, not legal or medical advice. Label rules differ by state, and this post covers only a few examples. Each state guide linked below has the full rules and official sources.

Who made it and where

Most state laws require the maker's name and address on the label. Florida requires the name and address of the cottage food operation. Ohio requires the name and address of the business. Sources: Fla. Stat. 500.80(3); Ohio Rev. Code 3715.023(A).

Some states let makers keep a home address private. Georgia requires the business name, address and phone number, but a maker may use an identification number from the Georgia Department of Agriculture in place of the address. Texas allows a registered maker to use a state identification number instead of an address. California labels show the maker's name, city and ZIP code, along with a registration or permit number and the county that issued it. Sources: O.C.G.A. 26-2-473(a); Tex. Health & Safety Code 437.0193(b-1); CDPH Cottage Food Labeling Requirements.

A name, an address or a registration number gives buyers a way to reach the maker with a question, reorder a favorite or report a problem to the state or county.

What is in it

Many states require an ingredient list in descending order of predominance by weight, which means the ingredient used most comes first. Florida, Ohio and California require this list, and so does North Carolina for products that need a label. Sources: Fla. Stat. 500.80(3); Ohio Rev. Code 3715.023(A); CDPH Cottage Food Labeling Requirements; NCDA&CS Home Processor.

These states also require the net weight or volume. North Carolina asks for the weight in ounces or pounds with the gram equivalent, and California asks for both English and metric units. A weight on the label makes it easier to compare prices between makers.

Allergens

For people with food allergies, the allergen information may be the most important part of the label. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. The FDA says food allergies cannot be cured and that knowing which foods to avoid is an important way to prevent serious reactions. Source: FDA: Food Allergies.

State rules for cottage food allergen labels vary:

A home kitchen often handles many ingredients on the same counters and pans. Buyers managing an allergy can ask the maker directly what else is made in the kitchen and how equipment is cleaned between batches.

The home-kitchen statement

Most states require a plain statement that the food came from a home kitchen. Each state sets its own wording by law. A few examples:

The statement is not a warning that the food is unsafe. It tells the buyer that the food was made under the state's cottage food rules rather than in a regularly inspected commercial kitchen, so the buyer can decide with that in mind.

Safe handling and dates

Some states allow certain homemade foods that need refrigeration, and those can carry extra label items. In Texas, these foods must show the date they were made on the label and must come with a safe handling statement, on the label or on the receipt, telling buyers to keep the food refrigerated or frozen until it is prepared. Source: Tex. Health & Safety Code 437.0193(e)(2). Buyers should follow any storage instructions on the label.

When there is no label on the package

Not every sale comes with a printed label. Georgia lets the required information go on a sign at the point of sale or on the webpage where the item is sold online. For phone or custom orders, the seller must tell the buyer the item came from a residential property exempt from state inspection and may contain allergens, and the full information must be available on request. North Carolina does not require an affixed label on made-to-order products handed directly to the buyer, but ingredient information must be available on request. Sources: O.C.G.A. 26-2-473(b)-(c); NCDA&CS Home Processor.

In those cases, asking for the ingredient and allergen information is a normal request.

A quick checklist for buyers

  1. Find the maker. Look for a name and an address, an identification number or a registration number.
  2. Read the ingredients. Ingredients are listed from the most to the least by weight.
  3. Check for allergens. Look for allergens in the ingredient list or a "Contains" statement, and ask the maker about shared equipment.
  4. Look for the home-kitchen statement. Its wording comes from state law.
  5. Follow storage instructions. Refrigerate foods whose labels say to.
  6. Ask when the label is missing. For custom orders and unpackaged items, ingredient information is often available on request.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ask a home baker for the ingredient list if the cake has no label?

Yes, and in some states the baker must provide it. North Carolina requires ingredient information to be available on request for made-to-order products handed directly to the buyer, and Georgia requires the full label information to be available on request for phone and custom orders. Sources: NCDA&CS Home Processor; O.C.G.A. 26-2-473(c).

Can I find out where a Texas cottage food maker is located if the label shows only a number?

The label shows a Texas Department of State Health Services identification number in place of an address only for makers who registered with the department. Questions about a registered maker can go to the department. Sources: Tex. Health & Safety Code 437.0193(b-1); Texas DSHS cottage food page.

Can I trust that a Florida cottage food label lists allergens?

Florida law requires cottage food labels to include allergen information as required by federal labeling rules. Buyers with severe allergies can also ask the maker about shared equipment. Source: Fla. Stat. 500.80(3).

Find the rules for your state

Label rules differ from state to state. See the full guides for Florida, Georgia, Texas, California, North Carolina and Ohio, or check the rules for any state on the all states page. To find makers near you, browse cottage food businesses in Florida and Georgia. For recent law updates, read Cottage Food Law Changes in 2026.

Sources

This article is general information, not legal or medical advice. Check your state's rules and ask the maker when you have questions about a product.