Michigan Can you legally sell food from home in Michigan?
Cottage Food Law
Michigan enacted a cottage food law in 2010 (HB 5280), and then amended it once in 2012 (HB 5130) to increase the sales limit.
Many types of non-perishable foods are allowed, and producers can sell directly to consumers at most sales venues.
It is very easy to start a cottage food business, since no license or inspection from the ag department is needed.
However, sales are limited to $25,000 per year, and indirect sales (through retail stores, grocery stores, online, etc) are not allowed.
Selling Where can you sell homemade food products?
Allowed Foods What food products can you sell from home?
To check if a specific kind of product is allowed, contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development at 800-292-3939 or MDA-Info@michigan.gov
Maple syrup and honey is not covered under this law, but you can sell it through a separate exemption. To qualify, you need to sell less than $15,001 of maple syrup and honey each year, label your products properly (see Labeling section), and meet basic processing requirements. You can sell these products directly to consumers, as well as indirectly through retail and grocery stores.
Limitations How will your home food business be restricted?
Business What do you need to do to sell food from home?
Food safety training is not required, but the MSU Extension offers a 2-hour cottage food training course for free. Both in-person and online courses are available.
If your home uses a private well, you should get your water tested annually to make sure that it is potable.
If you have a private septic system for you waste water, the health department recommends that you get it inspected before starting your business.
Labeling How do you label cottage food products?
Chocolate Chip Cookies
"Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development" (11-point type)
Forrager Cookie Company
123 Chewy Way, Cookietown, MI 73531
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
NET WT 2 lb 4 oz (1.02 kg)
If you sell maple syrup or honey, you must label those products with the same information that’s specified above, except the statement should read “Processed in a facility not inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development”.
Resources Where can you find more information about this law?
- MDA-Info@michigan.gov
- Telephone
- 800-292-3939
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Comments
Rachel
I’m trying to figure out if I can bake other people’s recipes and sell them. Sometimes I make my own but sometimes people want the product without doing the work. If I can’t that’s fine I just needed to know.
Amrita Singh
amritabala@hotmail.com
Hi! I am going to sell cakes from home under the cottage food law. I plan to deliver the product to the customer in person n have them pick from the residence, which is also the place of production. I will be using social media for advertising and a website for a complete menu offering. Can I take the order online and use PayPal or square for payment?
Beth
Can you sell iced cookies with royal icing using meringue powder?
Liz
I am wondering if I am part of a sale that includes a small animal swap, a farmers market, craft sale, and bake sale, if I need to obtain a permit to sell my own baked goods.
Arlene Harry Chigas
I’m a lisence mushroom, and cottage trade kitchen. If I make tinchers can I sell them as well?
Andrea Behe
I want to be able to sell my product online. My product consists of dried foods that I will packaging. I will not be using a stove, oven, or fridge. Am I still required to work out of a commercial kitchen if I am literally only using counter space to prepare my product? It is a dessert mix consisting of only dried foods.
Janet
Hello,
if I am selling small cookies do I have to wrap each of them and provide the label one by one? I wanted to offer them from a basket, is there any opportunity to do so?
Thank you
Janet
Amber
Can you sell online to a different state , example selling from Michigan to Pensylvania?
Jeremy
So if I’m selling custom cakes and cookies, do I need to put a label on the box with ingredients?
Sarah
Hello! I am trying to watch your training video and it tells me that it is private and requires a password. What steps do I need to follow to get a password for this?
David Crabill
It looks like that training video is no longer available. I’ve updated the info about taking a training course, which is $10.