Allen Temunovic

Arizona is pretty lenient… you will be fine with this kind of item.

You don’t need a nutrition label on your products unless you make a health claim, like “low-fat”. Just apply for an exemption.

The FDA’s info confuses me too, but I know you don’t have to register with them (aside from that exemption). Sorry, I really have no idea if info…[Read more]

Marianne, your Class B permit is for indirect sales, and I think this would qualify for that, as long as the person selling it is doing so within your county (or in other approved counties, where the necessary agreement with the health depts exists). Indirect sales usually happen at food facilities or grocery stores, but it also includes someone…[Read more]

The problem I think some counties are having ( within Environmental Health) is interpreting exactly what the law states. The Specialist I’m in contact with most of the time admits to having trouble making sense of it all. In my county, I’m allowed to use my caramel for my caramel apple pie though when I first submitted my ingredient label for app…[Read more]

Technically, yes you do.

Jan, unfortunately Santa Clara county seems to be the most restrictive county in the state. They are very strict, at least regarding the cottage food laws.

In short, this cottage food law would not apply to you. Not that it would matter anyway… Santa Clara’s cottage food permit fees are very expensive.

Fortunately, there is an exemption for…[Read more]

As long as your caramel sauce is considered non-potentially hazardous confectionary good, then you should be able to sell as a cottage food operation using the laws described on this site. Caramel sauces may be a little more borderline, and your health department may require that it be lab-tested before approving your registration.

If you run a cottage food operation, then you can legally only make food from your home kitchen. To make your product in a commercial kitchen, you need to be operating under a different license (which would also allow you to ship out-of-state).

The reason you can’t find anything about out-of-state sales is because those are not allowed under the…[Read more]

Crystal, I can tell you that a cottage food permit is for those only preparing food in their home kitchen. Since you are not doing this, then the law won’t apply to you. As for what’s the best way for you to sell your pre-made goods, I really have no idea. I am totally unfamiliar with the process for using your home as a sales venue outside of the…[Read more]

Generally, PHFs need to be refrigerated and non-PHFs do not require refrigeration. California does not allow pickles as a cottage food, and would also not allow cut produce, unless it’s been baked or prepared in some way to make it shelf-stable. To sell your items, you need to setup a standard food business and make your items from a commercial kitchen.

You can call your planning division to find out if you are required to get a business license. It’s quite possible that you would be. If you are, you can use this website to learn about starting a small business.

I am not familiar with Arizona’s tax laws, but in general, many cottage food operations are exempt from sales tax, because the food…[Read more]

Sandy, I personally know many cottage food operations in CA that make caramels and have had them approved. However, some counties are a little stricter than others, but I still don’t think any would say no. What county are you from? Of course, the only way to know for sure would be to talk to your county’s environmental health department.

The law…[Read more]