Cottage food rules
Alabama Cottage Food Law Label Requirements
Exactly what goes on an Alabama cottage food label, and who approves it.
On this page
What to remember
- Your operation’s name and address go on the label.
- The label must say the food is not inspected by the Health Department.
- Ingredients have to be listed.
- Your county health department approves the label.
- If water activity or pH testing is required, those results go to the county for review.
The label is the first thing a customer reads, and it is usually the last thing a home baker gets to. The rules themselves are short. What takes the time is writing the wording down, sending it in, and then keeping every label you print in line with what was approved. If you are still sorting out what comes before your first sale, read the Alabama cottage food law course online alongside this page.
What has to be on the label
Alabama requires the name and address of the cottage food operation on the label. Write the address the way a customer would need it to find you, and keep it identical from label to label. The label also has to include a list of the ingredients in what you baked.
The third piece is the statement that the food is not inspected by the Health Department. Keep that sentence plain and keep it on every label. It sits next to your name and address, and it tells a customer exactly what they are buying.
One label does not cover every bake you make. The name, address, and not inspected statement can stay the same, but the ingredient list has to match the bake it is on, so a cookie label and a pie label are two different labels even though they share the same three lines.
Getting your label approved
Cottage food labels have to be approved by the county health department, so the label is something you sort out before you sell, not after. Work through it in this order.
Write the full label
Put the name and address of your operation, the ingredient list, and the not inspected statement together in one place.
Check whether testing applies
If water activity or pH test results are required for what you make, those results have to be submitted to the county health department for review. Do that before you send the label.
Send it to your county health department
Your county health department is the office that approves the label. Send the wording you actually plan to print.
Keep the approved wording
Save the exact wording that was approved so every label you print later matches it.
Update it when a recipe changes
If you swap an ingredient, the ingredient list changes with it. Check with your county health department before you print the new version.
If this is your first time sending anything to the county, how to apply for cottage food law walks through the order of it, and license to sell baked goods from home covers the paperwork around it.
Labels, orders, and repeat customers
A label that is right the first time saves you a reprint and a phone call. It also does something quieter. When a customer sees your name, your address, and a clear statement about inspection, they know who baked what they are eating, and that is part of why they come back. Keep a stack of approved labels ready so a last minute order does not turn into a scramble.
Work out what each bake really costs before your next order
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Common questions
Do I need my label approved before I sell?
Yes. Cottage food labels must be approved by the county health department.
What address goes on the label?
The address of your cottage food operation, along with the name of the operation. Alabama requires both on the label.
Do I have to say the food is not inspected?
Yes. Alabama requires a statement on the label that the food is not inspected by the Health Department.
Do I need water activity or pH testing?
If water activity or pH test results are required for what you make, those results have to be submitted to the county health department for review.
Can I use the same label on everything I bake?
The name, address, and not inspected statement can stay the same, but the ingredient list has to match the bake it is on.
Sources
This is general information about Alabama cottage food labeling, not legal advice. Rules can change and county offices can differ, so confirm the current requirements with your county health department before you print and sell.