Ohio Cottage Food Label Requirements: What to Put on Every Label

On this page

1. What Ohio requires on a cottage food label
2. The home produced statement
3. Build a label you can defend
4. Where to check before you print

If you are selling bakes from your home kitchen in Ohio, the label is part of the sale, not a sticker you add when you remember. The rules come from the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Revised Code, and they apply to the food products you make under your cottage food operation. Start with the state rule, then build a label you can use on every item. For the wider picture on what you can sell, see Ohio cottage food laws.

What Ohio requires on a cottage food label

Ohio’s cottage food rule is direct: a cottage food production operation is required to label all of its food products properly. Under Ohio Administrative Code Rule 901:3-20-02, each food product must be labeled and the label must include the information mandated by section 3715.023 of the Revised Code. Ohio cottage food labels require six elements, and the statement “This product is home produced” set in 10 point type is one of them. That means you have two jobs: use the required wording, and include the other information the code calls for.

The home produced statement

The statement “This product is home produced.” is mandatory on products made under Ohio’s cottage food rules. Set it in 10 point type. Use the sentence as written, including the period, so the label carries the exact message the state asks for. This is the line the state requires on a home produced item.

Labeling is not only about that one sentence. All food labels in Ohio must comply with all applicable state and federal regulations and must be truthful and not misleading. That means the rest of your label has to hold up too. If you are unsure which rules apply to your shop, use how to check your state’s cottage food laws before you print.

Build a label you can defend

1. 1

   Start with the exact statement

   Write “This product is home produced.” exactly as shown, with the period.

2. 2

   Set it in 10 point type

   Ohio’s label rule calls for the statement in 10 point type.

3. 3

   Add the section 3715.023 information

   Include the information that section 3715.023 of the Ohio Revised Code requires on the label.

4. 4

   Check every word

   Make sure the label is truthful and not misleading, as Ohio requires for food labels.

5. 5

   Keep a copy

   Save the label you use for each product so you can check it later.

Where to check before you print

The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s cottage food page is the place to confirm the current rule. The department also publishes label requirements, and those requirements are where the six elements and the 10 point statement are described. Read them before you order labels or print a sheet at home. If your product or your process changes, check again.

Keep your label file with your recipes and your order notes. When you sell at a market or take a custom order, you want the same wording every time. A simple folder with the current label for each product is enough. The goal is not a label that looks busy. The goal is a label that says what Ohio requires and tells the truth about what is inside.

Common questions

What must an Ohio cottage food label include?

It must include the information required by section 3715.023 of the Ohio Revised Code and the statement "This product is home produced." in 10 point type. Ohio cottage food labels require six elements.

Does the home produced statement have to be exact?

Yes. The statement "This product is home produced." is mandatory on products made under Ohio's cottage food rules. Set it in 10 point type.

Do I have to label every product?

Yes. A cottage food production operation in Ohio is required to label all of its food products properly.

Can my label include other claims?

All food labels in Ohio must be truthful and not misleading and must comply with applicable state and federal regulations.

What is a cottage food production operation?

Ohio defines it in Chapter 3715 as a person who, in the person's home, produces food items that are not potentially hazardous foods.

Sources

1. Cottage Food | Ohio Department of Agriculture
2. Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 901:3-20
3. Ohio Department of Agriculture Labeling Requirements
4. Ohio Cottage Food Label Requirements
5. Cottage Foods Information
6. Food Labeling | Ohio Department of Agriculture

General information, not legal advice. Rules can change; confirm with the Ohio Department of Agriculture before you print.