Calorie Deck

Cottage Food Nutrition Label — Labels for Home-Based Food Businesses

A cottage food nutrition label is the panel you attach to goods made in a home kitchen and sold directly to customers — items like cookies, jams, bread and dry mixes. Many US states exempt cottage food businesses from a full nutrition panel, but they still require basic information such as the product name, ingredients, allergens, weight and your name and address.

What is a cottage food nutrition label?

Cottage food laws let people run small food businesses from their domestic kitchen without a commercial licence, but each state sets its own rules on what you can make, where you can sell, and how much you can earn. Labelling is part of that deal.

The common minimum is a label showing the product name, the full ingredient list (in descending order by weight), major allergens, the net weight, and the cottage food operation's name and address. A nutrition facts panel is often optional below certain thresholds.

Some states ask for a statement like 'Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the state' and limit sales to direct, in-person transactions. Online or wholesale sales are frequently prohibited, so the label is only one part of staying compliant.

How to build one

  1. Check your state's cottage food rules first — they differ widely on which foods are allowed and whether a nutrition panel is mandatory.
  2. Prepare the mandatory basics: product name, ingredient list, allergen declaration, net weight, and your business name and address.
  3. If a nutrition panel is required or you want one for trust, use a generator to compute per-serving calories, fat, carbohydrate and protein from your recipe.
  4. Print clearly, attach to every item, and keep a copy of your state's requirements on file in case an inspector asks.

Ready to build it?

Use the free, browser-based generator to turn your ingredient list into a finished panel — no sign-up, nothing uploaded.

Open the free label generator

Frequently asked questions

Do cottage food businesses need a nutrition label?▾

Often not. Most states that permit cottage food operations exempt them from the full nutrition facts panel, requiring only an ingredient list, allergens, weight and your details. A few states or certain products may require more, so confirm locally.

Do I need to register or get a licence?▾

Many states require a simple registration or permit and sometimes a brief food-safety course, but not a full commercial licence. The label alone doesn't satisfy registration where it's required.

Can I sell cottage food online or ship it?▾

Usually no. Cottage food laws in most states restrict sales to direct, in-person transactions within the state. Shipping across state lines or selling through national platforms typically falls outside the exemption.

Are allergen statements required even at home?▾

Yes. Major allergen declarations (milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish) are generally required regardless of business size, because they protect consumers with allergies.

Related guides

These figures are estimates from a standard ingredient database and are not a substitute for professional labelling advice. Verify against official sources before selling food.