Cottage food rules
Indiana Cottage Food Laws: Label Requirements
Know what Indiana asks you to put on a label before you sell your bakes.
On this page
What to remember
- Indiana labels must identify the food source name for each major allergen used.
- House Enrolled Act 1149, passed in 2022, defines home-based vendor requirements.
- A second path, homestead/small-farm rules, took effect July 1, 2026.
- Confirm your selling path before you order or print labels.
If you sell bakes from home in Indiana, the label is part of the sale. Start with what you are allowed to sell, then match your label to the path you sell under. Indiana cottage food laws: what home bakers can sell covers the product side, and this guide covers the label side.
Start with the allergen rule
The clearest statewide label rule in the material is about allergens. Indiana law requires that food labels identify the food source names of all major food allergens used to make the food. Put that requirement first when you build a label: the buyer needs to see the food source name for each major allergen in the bake. If a bake uses a major allergen, the label has to identify its food source.
House Enrolled Act 1149, passed in 2022, defines the requirements for home-based vendors in the preparation and sale of food products. House Bill 1149 specifies those requirements for selling as a home-based vendor. Read those home-based vendor rules next to the allergen label rule so your label matches the way you sell.
Pick your selling path before you print
Indiana has two current direct-to-consumer paths for home food producers: the Home-Based Vendor rules and the new homestead/small-farm rules effective July 1, 2026. That matters for labels because Indiana lists both paths as current, so you need to know which one covers your bakes before you print. If your bakes include cream cheese, Indiana cottage food laws and cream cheese helps you sort out what you can sell before you write the label.
A label check you can run at home
Confirm your selling path
Decide whether you sell under the Home-Based Vendor rules or the homestead/small-farm rules effective July 1, 2026. Indiana lists both as current paths for home food producers.
List every major allergen in the recipe
Read the recipe and note each major food allergen used to make the food. Indiana requires labels to identify the food source names of all major food allergens used.
Write the food source name
Put the food source name on the label in plain words. The requirement is about the source name of the allergen.
Match each label to its recipe
Keep the label with the recipe it belongs to. If you sell several bakes, check each label against its own ingredient list.
Check the state materials before you print
Read the Indiana health department materials for your selling path. House Enrolled Act 1149 defines home-based vendor requirements, and the homestead/small-farm rules are separate.
Summer markets and holiday orders can change your lineup fast. Indiana cottage food laws in July is a useful check when your selling season shifts, and the label rule still starts with the food source names of major allergens.
When your recipe changes
When you change a recipe, the allergen list can change too. Recheck the food source names before you print new labels. If you sell more than one kind of bake, keep each label tied to the recipe it belongs to so you do not mix up a batch.
Common questions
Do Indiana labels have to list major allergens?
Yes. Indiana law requires food labels to identify the food source names of all major food allergens used to make the food.
Which Indiana law covers home-based vendors?
House Enrolled Act 1149, passed in 2022, defines the requirements for home-based vendors in the preparation and sale of food products. House Bill 1149 specifies those requirements.
Are there new Indiana rules for home food producers?
Indiana has two current direct-to-consumer paths: the Home-Based Vendor rules and the new homestead/small-farm rules effective July 1, 2026.
Where should I check my label before I sell?
Use the Indiana health department materials for the path you sell under. The allergen rule requires labels to identify the food source names of all major food allergens used to make the food.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Confirm the current Indiana requirements and your selling path before you print labels.