Cottage Industry Foods – What Does It Mean?

Forrager.com  targeted to the cottage community, offers a clear explanation of the term, posting each states law, what the cottage industry is about and foods identified as acceptable and unacceptable to make at home and sell to the public.

What is a cottage food law?

The short answer: It is a law that allows you to make certain types of food from your home kitchen, and then legally sell them at certain venues.

The long answer: During the 20th century, most states created a law which prevented homemade food from being sold for personal profit. In 1993, the first federal food code recommended that food made at home should not be sold in a commercial food establishment. Almost all states have now adopted some version of the federal food code, which has never changed its stance on selling homemade foods.

What does this mean to you?  

It means you can make at home items grain or dry based and baked, but not products requiring refrigeration and temperature control and containing dairy or meat and sell to the public.  

What’s the difference?

Dry and baked goods have a difference tolerance level to attracting bacteria than refrigerated products.  Individuals making products at home are using home appliances, have different types of ingredients in the space, may not realize cleaning hands, surfaces and appliance are not thoroughly conducted.

What’s the risk of making a product at home and selling to the public?

In a few words, Liability and Product Safety.  If someone gets sick from consuming a product you made, then you are at risk of legal consequences.  Additionally, your major area of sales exposure will be farmer market type venues.  Grocery and independent stores will not accept “Cottage Product”, because they do not want to assume any risk.   

Then where can I make my frozen dairy and nondairy frozen product?

In a commercial facility, using commercial grade equipment, licensed by the state and under the guidelines and inspection arm of the Department of Agriculture.  The State Agriculture Department site will show you the inspecting arm for your state.

How can Darryl’s Ice Cream Solutions help me?

Darryl will discuss and assist in:

• • Your product line.

• • Better understand the benefits of making your own product or contracting with a co-pack manufacturer.

• • Defining your customer.

• • Flavor suppliers.

• • Packaging, nutritional panel, ingredient statement and upc, storage and distribution.

Are Darryl’s Ice Cream Solutions Services Expensive?

No

Can Darryl’s Ice Cream Solutions help me after manufacturing? Yes, can help you understand the sales channels, the buyer, price point, product support through product promotion and marketing collateral to name a few.