Cottage food rules
Cottage Food Law Texas Labels: What to Know
Know what Texas label rules cover before you print a single sticker.
On this page
What to remember
- Texas label rules sit under 25 Tex. Admin. Code § 229.661.
- The rule implements Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437.
- TCS foods need safe handling instructions and temperature requirements.
- Read the current rule before you print a label.
If you bake from home in Texas, a label is part of selling with care. It also tells a customer what they are holding. Start with the state rule, then build a label you can reuse without guessing. For the wider setup, see Cottage Food Law Texas: What Home Bakers Need to Know.
Start with the Texas rule, not a template
The place to start is 25 Tex. Admin. Code § 229.661. It implements Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437, which requires the department to adopt rules for labeling cottage food production operations. A template can save time, but it does not replace the current rule. Read the rule first, then use a template to lay out the details. Cottage Food Law Label Template: What to Put on Yours can help you shape the label after you know what the rule asks for.
When safe handling and temperature information is required
The material we have is clear on one point: cottage food production operations that sell time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods must follow specific labeling requirements, including safe handling instructions and temperature requirements. If your bakes are not TCS foods, do not assume the same list applies. Read the current rule and match the label to what you actually sell.
Build a label you can check before every print run
A label is easier to trust when you keep the details in one place. Write down the exact wording you use, the date you checked the rule, and the foods it covers. Then print a test label and read it out loud. If a detail is missing or unclear, fix it before you stick it on a box. For more label help, see Cottage Food Law Texas Label: What to Put on Yours.
What to check before you print
Check the current Texas rule first. Confirm whether the food you sell is a TCS food. If it is, confirm the safe handling instructions and temperature requirements are on the label. Then check that the label matches the food in the package. A label that was right for one bake may not be right for another.
If you are still choosing what to sell, the broader guide to Texas cottage food rules can help you sort the basics. For label wording, keep the current rule beside you as you type. The label should tell the customer what they need to know about the food they are buying.
Keep the label plain and readable. Use the same font and layout for every bake so you can spot a missing detail fast. When you add a new item, start from the current rule and your saved label file. Do not rely on memory at the market table.
Try Brevl free for 14 days
Free, no signup.
Common questions
Do I need a label for cottage food in Texas?
Texas has a labeling rule for cottage food production operations. 25 Tex. Admin. Code § 229.661 implements Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437, which requires the department to adopt rules for labeling. Check the current rule for the food you sell.
What has to be on a Texas cottage food label?
For time/temperature control for safety foods, the label must include safe handling instructions and temperature requirements. The full list comes from the current Texas rule. Read it before you print.
Can I use a template for my label?
Yes, a template can help you lay out the details. It is a starting point, not a replacement for the current rule. Check the wording against the Texas rule before you print.
Does every bake need the same label?
Do not assume one label fits every item. TCS foods have specific labeling requirements, including safe handling instructions and temperature requirements. Match the label to the food you sell.
Where can I read the Texas rule?
Use the Texas Department of State Health Services page on Texas cottage food production and 25 Tex. Admin. Code § 229.661. Both are linked in the sources below.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Check the current Texas rule for your food before you print a label.