“Cottage foods," as defined in HF2431 (2022), are foods that are prepared in a residence that are not subject to licensing or inspection. Cottage foods must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- The food is prepared in a private residence;
- The food does not require temperature control to ensure safety;
- The food is sold directly from the producer to the consumer; and
- The food is properly labeled.
The only food establishment where cottage foods can be sold are temporary food establishments, if the temporary establishment is operated by the producer of the food and is packaged and labeled as outlined above.
- Is it a cottage food, or is a home food processing establishment license needed? [Excel]
- Cottage Foods & Farmers Markets fact sheet [PDF]
List items for Cottage Foods
The following food and food products cannot be sold as a cottage food or without regulation:
- Any food that must be kept hot or cold for safety;
- Milk or milk products regulated under Iowa Code Chapter 192. Contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's Dairy Products Control Bureau with any questions; or
- Meat, meat food products, poultry, or poultry food products regulated under Iowa Code Chapter 189A. Contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's Meat and Poultry Inspection Bureau with any questions.
Cottage food labels MUST contain the following information:
- Information to identify the name and address, phone number, or email address of the person preparing the food;
- The common name of the food;
- The ingredients of the cottage food in descending order of predominance;
- The following statement: “This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state licensing and inspection.”;
- If the cottage food contains one or more major food allergens, an additional allergen statement must be included on the label identifying each major allergen contained in the food by the common name of the allergen (Major allergens include: milk, egg, fish (like bass, flounder, or cod), shellfish (like crab, lobster, or shrimp), tree nuts (like almonds, pecans, or walnuts), wheat, peanuts, soybeans, sesame, or food ingredients that contain protein derived from one of these allergens.); and
- If the food is home-processed and home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits permitted under this section, the date that the food was processed and canned.
“Cottage food” MAY include home-canned pickles, vegetables or fruits if ALL of the following apply:
- The product has a pH value of 4.60 or lower or a water activity (Aw) of .85 or lower;
- Each batch is measured by a pH meter or (Aw) meter;
- Each container is properly labeled, including the date the food was produced and canned; and
- The producer provides documentation to the regulatory authority upon request, including at the point of sale.
Examples
- Cottage Food Batch Record (Example)
- Cottage Food pH Calibration Record (Example)
- Cottage Food Acidified Food (Pickled) Standardized Recipe (Example)
- Cottage Food Standardized Recipe General Food (Example)
Templates
- Cottage Food Batch Record (Template)
- Cottage Food pH Calibration (Template)
- Cottage Food Standardized Recipe (Template)
- Cottage Food All Record Workbook [Excel - document will download on click]