How to Adhere to Cottage Food Laws in Michigan
A law enacted in Michigan in 2010, the Cottage Food Law, allows individuals to create their own business in an unlicensed kitchen, as long as it is in their home. The law makes it easier for individuals to prepare and sell non-potentially hazardous foods without meeting many requirements of the Michigan Food Law. Income from Cottage Food products is limited to $15,000 gross a year per household; however, this could be enough to help some families through tough times or improve their current lifestyle. There are important steps you will have to follow while setting up your home kitchen to ensure you are following the Cottage Food Law.
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Instructions
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Choose the type of food you would like to prepare for your business and make sure it fits under the Cottage Food Law in Michigan. Make sure the type of food you select does not need a certain temperature to remain safe. Choose foods such as pies, cakes, candy or other baked goods. You can also choose dried foods such as herbs or pasta. Avoid pickled or canned products; however, jams and jellies are okay.
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Identify any potential allergens in your product, such as eggs, wheat, nuts, soy or milk.
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Make a list of all the ingredients in your products. Make sure to add all the ingredients that make up each ingredient in parentheses behind the respective ingredient.
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Add a label to your product that has the statement "Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture" typed in an 11-point font at the top of the label. Make sure the font can be easily seen and read.
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Add the name of your product and the address of your home kitchen to the label. Add all the ingredients, including those in parentheses, to your label. Put the ingredients in order by what you used the most of in the recipe.
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Add the allergen list at the bottom of the label next to the word "Contains." List each of the allergens present in the food. Make sure to identify the exact type of ingredient, rather than a general term like "nut" to specify the type. Make sure to identify products that come from an allergen such as sodium caseinate, which is from milk. Double-check each of the ingredients on each of your labels for possible allergens. Look up an ingredient if you are not sure of what it is.
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Sell your food product directly to consumers at food stands or farmers markets.
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References
- Photo Credit Pie image by Antonio Oquias from Fotolia.com
