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Home » Regulatory Services » Cottage Food Production

Cottage Food Production

Rebecca Nielsen, Program Manager, (385) 799-0281 Phone, (385) 465-6023 Fax

The Cottage Food Law allows an individual with a valid food handlers permit to make and/or package certain permitted foods in their home kitchen after being approved by UDAF through the inspection and registration process.

Foods made under Cottage Food registration must be shelf-stable, low-risk, and non-potentially hazardous.

Permitted Cottage Food Products

Baked Goods. Baked goods must be shelf-stable and may not contain cream, uncooked egg, custard, meringue or cream cheese frosting or garnishes. Baked goods cannot contain cream-based frostings, cream-based ganache, cream cheese filling, cream cheese frosting, buttercream that contains egg (such as Swiss, Italian, French), Chantilly style frostings, custards (such as lemon bars, pumpkin filling/pie, pecan filling/pie, sweet potato filling/pie), or fresh fruit toppings/garnishes. Baked goods must be cooked with dry heat such as baked in an oven or cooked on a hot skillet. Cooking by frying and steaming are not allowed.

Additions to baked goods (inside or on top) must result in a non-potentially hazardous food. Hard cheeses must be grated and used sparingly. Soft cheeses are not allowed. Acidified vegetables (such as jalapeno peppers) must be commercially manufactured. 

Breads may only contain non-TCS inclusions (such as nuts, dried fruit, dried vegetables, and chocolate). Sourdough starters must be commercially manufactured or must be provided with pH results of 4.0 or less from a certified laboratory,

Cakes and pastries may not contain vegetable pieces (such as carrot cake) unless they are derived from a cake mix with dried vegetables. No liquid can be added to the product after baking (such as Tres Leches). No fillings other than approved frosting types.

Cookies may only contain non-TCS inclusions. Fillings (such as macarons) must be non-TCS (such as frosting or caramel or chocolate).

Pies are limited to fruit pies. No custard, cream, or egg-based fillings.

Cereals, Trail Mixes, and Granola. Including cereal-marshmallow treats;

Dried Fruits and Chocolate-Covered Dried Fruits. Dried fruits must be made from acidic fruits. Fruits that require time or temperature controls for food safety when cut are not allowed (i.e. melons are not allowed). Low acid fruits may be freeze-dried; 

Dry Herbs and Seasoning Mixes. Herbs are limited to those commonly used to flavor food as described in 21 CFR 182.10—SPICES AND OTHER NATURAL SEASONINGS AND FLAVORINGS. Medicinal herbs and dietary supplements are not allowed; 

Hard Candies, Freeze-Dried Candies, and Cotton Candy. Candies do not include cream-based chocolates such as ganache and truffles;

Jams, Jellies and Preserves. Jams, jellies, and preserves must contain only the fruits as described in 21 CFR 150—FRUIT BUTTERS, JELLIES, PRESERVES, AND RELATED PRODUCTS, except for tomatoes. Fruit butter is not allowed. Sugar-free or no sugar added jams or jellies are not allowed; 

Nuts, Nut Mixes and Nut Brittles. Including candied and chocolate covered nuts; 

Popcorn and Popcorn Balls;

Raw Honey and Creamed Honey;

Repackaging non-TCS Foods;

Roasted Coffee Beans;

Vanilla Extract; and

Vinegar and Flavored Vinegar. Flavored vinegar must be strained or filtered prior to bottling and may not contain any flavoring components, including but not limited to herbs, pieces of fruits or vegetables, and fruit rinds. 

Cottage Food registration does NOT allow the sale of foods that require refrigeration for safety or products considered high-risk or potentially hazardous. Examples of products that are NOT allowed:

  • Refrigerated or frozen food
  • Products that contain meat or poultry 
  • Cheesecakes, custards, etc.
  • Other canned, high-risk, or potentially hazardous foods

Selling Cottage Food Products

  • Products may only be sold within Utah
  • Products may be sold direct-to-the-consumer or to stores for resale
  • Products must meet labeling requirements listing the name of food, complete list of ingredients, net quantity, allergens, name and contact information of the business, and “Home Produced”

Cottage Food Establishment Registration Information:

Please download all of the following documents and use the information to complete the Application. 

Utah Code and Administrative Rules Relating to Cottage Food Production:

Additional Information: