Mississippi Can you legally sell food from home in Mississippi?
Cottage Food Law
Prior to 2013, Mississippi only allowed sales of homemade food at farmers markets, but they passed a new cottage food bill (SB 2553) that year to allow in-person sales at other venues as well.
However, individuals can now sell only $35,000 of homemade food per year. Fortunately, many types of food products are allowed, and it’s very easy to get started, as no registration or permit from the health department is required.
Selling Where can you sell homemade food products?
Allowed Foods What food products can you sell from home?
Certain items may require lab testing.
Limitations How will your home food business be restricted?
Business What do you need to do to sell food from home?
Although no training is required, it is strongly recommended by the health department, especially for those making acidified or pickled products (canned goods).
Labeling How do you label cottage food products?
Chocolate Chip Cookies
"Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations."
Forrager Cookie Company
123 Chewy Way, Cookietown, MS 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)
Resources Where can you find more information about this law?
- Department
- Food Protection Division
- Telephone
- 601-576-7689
Mississippi State Department of Health
- February 2008
- MCA 69-7-109
- July 2013
- SB 2553
- July 2020
- HB 326
Comments
lance torrey
Is Beef Jerky allowed since it is dried?
Chalice Zangri
Do I need a permit to sell my home made goat cheese?
Robin hamby
Arekettle cooked pork skins considered cottage food?
Kat
If I publish a novel and sell it both in print and in e-format, and I advertise my spice blend in the book, is that legal?
Lina
Do you need to charge sale tax on a cottage food business?
Richie Rage Booneville
Mr. Vaughn, you don’t need to.
Tommy Vaughn
I have a small farm and sell at farmers market. I want to put up a roadside stand to sell produce. Do I need any permit in Mississippi to do so?
OS
Is there any way around not putting your home address on your packaging of the cottage foods product you offer? I realize they need a way to contact you in the event of complaints, but wouldn’t a telephone number or email work?
David Crabill
Sometimes having yourself listed in a telephone book will work, but usually there’s no way around it. Here’s some more info: http://forrager.com/faq/#home-address