Food Safety

Cottage foods are low‑risk foods that people can safely make in their home kitchens and sell directly to the public. These foods don’t require inspection by the Jefferson County Health Department because they stay safe at room temperature when handled correctly.

Cottage Foods include only the following:

• Baked goods and pastries
• Jams and jellies
• Dried herbs and seasonings

Please see the list of exempted items that are allowed at Farmers Markets only

Cottage foods exempted items are not allowed to be sampled on-site unless the samples are individually pre-packaged at home prior to the market.

Exemptions List 2026

Foods Not Allowed At Markets

Labeling Requirements

All cottage food products must include clear labels. Each label should list:

• The name of the food
• The producer’s name and address
• Ingredients in order of weight
• A statement that the item was made in a home kitchen

Safe Food Handling

Even though cottage foods are exempt from permits, producers are still responsible for keeping food safe. Good practices include:

• Washing hands before preparing food
• Using clean tools and containers
• Storing ingredients safely
• Protecting finished foods from contamination

Getting Foods Tested

Foods not already covered under Cottage Food Law or the exemption list will be required to have testing. This testing must be conducted by a Process Authority to confirm pH and water activity for to ensure food safety and shelf-stableness. These experts can help review your recipe, test your product, or guide you on what steps are needed to keep it safe.

Process Authority- Farmer’s Markets

If you’re not sure whether your food qualifies as a cottage food our Environmental Public Health team is here to help. Email us at environmental@jeffcohealth.org.