Running a home-based food business can be a fulfilling and lucrative venture. After all, the start-up costs are generally low, and there are no permits, licenses, or inspections required if your business adheres to cottage food laws. Let’s look at the cottage law in Louisiana.
What can I sell under cottage Law in Louisiana?
The Louisiana Cottage Food Law allows individuals to prepare and sell low-risk food products right from their home kitchens.
Low-risk foods include:
- Baked goods, including breads, cakes, cookies, and pies.
- Candies
- Cane syrup
- Dried mixes
- Honey and honeycomb products
- Jams, jellies, and preserves
- Pickles and acidified foods
- Sauces and syrups
- Spices
Unlike most states, Louisiana does allow the sale of custard and cream-filled bakery products under cottage law, as long as the products are:
- Made with pasteurized milk or milk products
- Cooked at a minimum temperature of one hundred forty-five degrees (145) Fahrenheit for no less than thirty minutes
- Refrigerated to forty-five degrees Fahrenheit or below
Additionally, you must not touch custard or cream-filled products with your hands after you have cooked them.
What is NOT allowed by cottage law Louisiana?
Cottage food businesses in Louisiana may NOT:
- sell any products containing animal or fish protein
- employ any additional people
- sell to retail businesses for resale
- exceed $30,000 in annual revenue
- allow any domestic pets in the kitchen/baking area
Labeling requirements
You must label all cottage food products with a statement that indicates the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility. Although further labeling requirements are not specified in the law, you should always label your products with a complete ingredient list (including sub-ingredients), the date it was made, and any allergen information.
Other requirements
Additionally, every cottage food business in Louisiana must have a General Sales Tax Certificate from the Louisiana Department of Revenue AND a local sales tax certificate from the local taxing authority of any jurisdiction in which they will sell.
Overall, the cottage laws in Louisiana are quite straightforward. As always, please contact your local health department to ensure your kitchen and cottage food business plan adheres to health and safety standards.
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