Homemade Food Is Now Legal to Sell

Michigan recently passed a food bill allowing homemakers to sell their homemade food products.

They can prepare certain foods, known as cottage foods, in their own homes, rather than having to use a licensed commercial kitchen, and sell the products directly to buyers at places such as farmers markets, roadside stands and festivals.

The law helps home bakers to earn a little extra money to help make ends meet.

Don’t we all love those homemade mini-loaves of Banana Nut Bread and Cranberry Bread and Blueberry Muffins?

More than 20 states now have laws permitting cottage foods, which are simply foods the law allows to be made at home. It's a short list, limited to items that don't require time and temperature controls for safety.

Still not covered by these ‘cottage food’ laws are pickles, tomato-based products" or other foods with a higher risk of causing food-borne illnesses.

The law requires each item to have a label saying it was produced in an un-inspected home kitchen, listing the food's ingredients and any known allergens, and including the producer's name and address. Products must be sold directly to consumers and not through stores or restaurants, so buyers will have no doubt about who made the food.

Annual sales are capped at $15,000 so that if you’re sales go higher then you need to use a commercial kitchen and start selling at stores.