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Cottage Food

Cottage Food Operation

"Cottage Food Operation" means a person operating out of their home who meets the following requirements:

  • Produces cottage food for sale
  • Sells and/or delivers the food produced in a cottage food operation only directly to consumers, whether in-person, by phone, or online, within the state
  • Completes a food safety course approved by the Health Department and
  • Labels all cottage foods that the operation sells (See Labeling Requirements below)
  • Completes and submits a Cottage Food Review Form to their Local County Health Department

Cottage Food Defined

"Cottage Food" means a non-potentially hazardous food that has been prepared in a person's home that does not require time or temperature control for safety to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation, and that does not include meat, poultry, or fish, but can include the following:

  • Cakes, breads, Danish pastries, donuts, pastries, and pies
  • Jam, jellies, and fruit preserves
  • Candy
  • Dried and dehydrated herbs, herb mixes, vegetables, or fruits
  • Roasted coffee
  • Dried baking mixes
  • Fermented or preserved vegetables or fruit that do not result in the production of alcohol and that have an acidity level allowed by the department as defined in Chapter 1 of the Food Code under time/temperature control for safe food

Label Requirements

All the following must be included on each food produced in a cottage food operation in at least 10-point font:

  • The common or usual name of the food
  • The name of the cottage food operation
  • The home or P.O. Box address of the cottage food operation
  • A list of the ingredients in the food in descending order of predominance
  • A statement that the food is not inspected by the Health Department
  • Disclaimer that the food may contain allergens

Resources

For more information, contact your Local County Health Department.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

There are additional foods allowed to be sold, additional requirements for the product labels, additional delivery methods, and the limit for annual income under the law has been removed.
The Cottage Food Law allows for the sale of non-potentially hazardous foods including baked goods; jams, jellies, and fruit preserves; candy; dried and dehydrated herbs, herb mixes, vegetables, or fruits; roasted coffee; dried baking mixes; and/or fermented or preserved vegetables or fruits that do not result in the production of alcohol and that have a pH allowed by the Health Department.
No. The Local County Health Department will only review the food safety course certificate and the product labels.
The label is required to have the following: The common name of the food, the name and address of the cottage food production operation, a statement that the food is not inspected by the health department, a list of ingredients for the product in descending order of predominance, and a disclaimer that the food may contain allergens, all in at least 10-point font.
Yes. The Cottage Food Law stipulates that all items for sale must be labeled.
The Alabama Cooperative Extension Service offers a food safety course developed specifically for cottage food operations. Other food safety courses are accepted, including any taken through any ANSI-accredited food safety program.
Yes. The Cottage Food Law requires that the cottage food operator maintain a food safety course certification.
Your food safety course certificate, a sample product label, and your completed cottage food review form should be taken to your Local County Health Department for review.
Fees vary by county. Check with your Local County Health Department about any fees for the review process.
Yes. The Cottage Food Law does not prohibit advertising.
Yes. A cottage food producer may sell their food products directly to consumers in person, by phone, or online as long as the receiving person is in Alabama.
Yes. A cottage food producer may deliver their food products directly to consumers within the state, whether in person, through an agent of the producer, or by mail.
An agent of the producer is a person who works on behalf of the cottage food producer to deliver the food products to the consumer.
The Local County Health Department can provide the cottage food producer with a written confirmation that the food safety course certificate and product labels have been reviewed.
State-sanctioned farmers' markets are under the jurisdiction of the Farmers Market Authority with the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries. For product sales at a farmers' market, it is best to consult the Farmers Market Authority.
No. Permitted food establishments are not allowed to sell food items produced in a private home.
A cottage food producer may not sell their products in an establishment or from a mobile food unit permitted by the health department. A cottage food producer may sell from any venue, such as a mobile food unit, van, cart, tent, booth, or storefront that is not permitted by the Health Department, as long as the products are being made in the cottage food producer's home and sold directly to the consumer.
No. A cottage food producer may only sell their products directly to consumers.
No. Meat products are considered potentially hazardous foods and are not allowed under the Cottage Food Law. Meat, poultry, and fish are specifically excluded under the Law.
Fermented vegetables like pickles and acidified foods like salsa must undergo pH verification before being allowed to be sold from a cottage food production operation.
A processing authority must be used to provide pH and water activity testing documentation that the food item meets the non-TCS requirement.
No. Fermented or preserved vegetables or fruit must undergo a pH verification from a processing authority or the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. After the pH verification is approved, it is recommended that the cottage food producer routinely conduct their own pH tests.
Freeze-dried foods must undergo a water activity verification before being allowed to be sold from a cottage food production operation.
Non-potentially hazardous food items containing less than 3% alcohol may be sold under the Cottage Food Law. For non-potentially hazardous food products containing more than 3% alcohol, it is best to consult the Alabama Beverage Control Board.
No. The Cottage Food Law requires that all labels include the name and the address of the cottage food operation, a statement that the food is not inspected by the Health Department, a list of the ingredients in descending order of predominance, and a disclaimer that the food may contain allergens





Page last updated: June 11, 2026

SEE ALSO:

Avian Flu
Environmental Services
Food Scores

NEED HELP?

Having trouble finding what you are looking for? Use our A to Z Index.