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What Foods are Permitted to be Manufactured for Sale or Distribution by a Cottage Food Production Operation?
The definition of "home" refers to a residence that contains one stove or oven used for COOKING. Each of the food products identified in the law undergoes a heat step: bakery products (such as cookies, breads, brownies, cakes, pies, etc.); candy (including no-bake cookies, chocolate covered pretzels or similar chocolate-covered non-perishable items); jams; jellies, and fruit butter.
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What Foods are not Allowed to be Manufactured for Sale or Distribution by a Cottage Food Production Operation?
A “Cottage Food Production Operation” is not permitted to process acidified foods, low-acid canned foods, or potentially hazardous foods or non-potentially hazardous foods not listed above. Low acid food means any food with a finished equilibrium pH greater than 4.6 and a water activity greater than 0.85. Acidified food means a low acid food to which acids or acid foods are added (Ex. Beans, cucumbers, cabbage, puddings, etc.). Potentially hazardous food means it requires temperature control because it is in a form capable of supporting the rapid and progressive growth of infectious or toxigenic microorganisms (Ex. Raw or cooked animal products, cooked vegetables, garlic in oil, cheese cakes, pumpkin pies, custard pies, cream pies, etc.) Non-potentially hazardous food items/processes not permitted to be made or performed in a "Cottage Food Production Operation"--Snack Foods (potato chips, popcorn, trail mix, etc.); Cereals including granola; Repackaging of Foods; Production of Dry Food Mixes; Drying of foods including Herbs and Fruits, etc.
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What are the Requirements for the Labeling of Cottage Food Products?
Yes: A “Cottage Food Production Operation” is required to label all of their food products and include the following information on the label of each unit of food product offered or
distributed for sale:
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The name and address of the business of the “Cottage Food Production Operation”;
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The name of the food product;
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The ingredients of the food product, in descending order of predominance by weight;
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The net weight or net volume of the food product;
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The following statement in ten-point type: “This Product is Home Produced.”
Note:
If a nutritional claim is made (i.e. low fat, salt free, etc.)
federal labeling requirements must be met. Click
here for labeling information for specific foods.
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What Does the Statement “This Product is Home Produced” Mean?
The statement means that the food product was produced in a private home that is not subject to inspection by a food regulatory authority.
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Where may a Cottage Food Production Operations Sell their Food Products?
Cottage Food Products may only be sold in Ohio. Cottage Food Products that are properly identified and labeled may be sold directly to the consumer from the site where the products are produced; sold through grocery stores, farm markets,
farmers markets, etc.; sold and/or used in preparing food in a restaurant.
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Does A Cottage Food Production Operation Need to Acquire a License to Process and Package Food Products?
No: A “Cottage Food Production Operation” is exempt from inspection and licensing by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. However, all food products, including those produced and packaged
by a “Cottage Food Production Operation”, are subject to food sampling conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture to determine if a food product is misbranded or adulterated.
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Questions? ODA Division of Food Safety
Phone: 614-728-6250 or 1-800-282-1955 (toll-free within Ohio only)
Email: Division
of Food Safety
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