Iowa Can you legally sell food from home in Iowa?

Cottage Food Law

Iowa has two different laws for home cooks, which combine to form possibly the best cottage food laws in the nation. Iowa has been allowing sales of homemade food for longer than any other state (since at least the 1980s).

The cottage food law (described on this page) allows producers to sell almost all types of nonperishable foods directly to consumers, including online sales and shipping products.

There is no sales limit, license, or inspection needed, and the law prohibits local governments from adding these things and/or prohibiting homemade food sales.

Iowa also has a law for home food processing establishments, which allows producers to sell almost any type of food (including perishable foods) at any venue (including indirect sales through retail stores).

Table of Contents

Selling Allowed Foods Limitations Labeling Resources Forum

Selling Where can you sell homemade food products?

Allowed Venues

Events Farmers markets Home Online Roadside stands

Allowed Services

Delivery Home Pickup Mail order

Prohibited Venues

Restaurants Retail stores

Prohibited Services

Catering Wholesale

You can sell items indirectly through retail stores by becoming a Home Food Processing Establishment.

Allowed Foods What food products can you sell from home?

Bread

Bagels Breads Brownies Cake pops Cakes Cookies Cupcakes Donuts Macarons Muffins & Biscuits Pizzelles Rolls Scones Sweet breads Tortillas Wedding cakes

Candy

Brittles Buttercream frosting Candies Chocolate Cotton candy Fudge Truffles

Condiments

Honey Ketchup Mustards Nut butters Oils Pickles Salsas Sauces Syrups Vinegars

Dry goods

Cereals Coffee beans Dried fruit Dried vegetables Herbs Mixes Pasta noodles Spices & Seasonings Tea leaves

Other

Carbonated drinks Whole eggs

Pastries

Churros Cones Danish Empanadas & Tamales Other Pastries Pies

Preserves

Acidified foods Applesauce Chutneys Fruit butters Jams & jellies Marmalades Other Preserves

Snacks

Candied apples Caramel corn Chocolate-covered fruit Chocolate-covered items Crackers & Pretzels Fruit leathers Granola Kettle corn Marshmallows Nuts & seeds Popcorn Vegetable chips

Prohibited Foods

Perishable baked goods Low-acid canned foods Juices Meat jerkies

There are probably more prohibited foods, but the ones above have been confirmed

You can sell almost any kind of non-perishable food.

If you want to sell acidified foods (pickles, salsas, etc), you must test each batch with a pH meter or water activity meter, and you must include the production date on your product labels.

You can sell perishable food items by getting licensed as a Home Food Processing Establishment.

Only "non-potentially hazardous" foods are allowed, but certain non-PHFs may not be allowed. Most foods that don't need to be refrigerated (foods without meat, cheese, etc.) are considered non-potentially hazardous. Learn more

Limitations How will your home food business be restricted?

Limitations

Direct sales only Interstate sales prohibited

There may be more limitations, but the ones above have been confirmed

There is no sales limit

Labeling How do you label cottage food products?

Label Requirements

Allergens Business name Email address Ingredients Product name Statement

Sample Label

Chocolate Chip Cookies

"This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state licensing and inspection"

Forrager Cookie Company

Email: cookies@forrager.com

Ingredients: enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), butter (cream, salt), semi-sweet chocolate (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin, natural flavors), brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract (vanilla bean extract, alcohol, sugar), baking soda, salt (salt, calcium silicate)

Contains: milk, eggs, wheat, soy

You need to put your email address, phone number, OR home address on your labels. You only need to include one of those three contact methods.

If you want to sell acidified foods (pickles, salsas, etc), you must include the production date on your labels.

Resources Where can you find more information about this law?

Links

Cottage Food Law (HF 2431)

Department

Inspections and Appeals

Contacts

Department: Department of Inspections and Appeals
Telephone: 515-281-6538
Address: Lucas State Office Building, Third Floor
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0083

Law Dates