Arkansas Cottage Food Label Requirements

The required label statement

This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens.

Two-sentence statement quoted by the Arkansas Department of Health Homemade Food Production Guide (May 21, 2026) as the Act's required disclosure — print it verbatim. No type size, font or panel is fixed in the ADH guide. It must appear on a label affixed to the package (or to the bulk container, plus a written document handed to the buyer); for online sales the website must also show it.

What must be on your label

• The date the homemade food was manufactured, produced, or processed (ADH guide §1.4(1))
• The name, address, and telephone number of the producer — OR, for producers who do not wish to disclose this for safety reasons, an identification number issued by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture used instead of that information (ADH guide §1.4(2))
• The common or usual name of the food (ADH guide §1.4(3))
• The ingredients of the food in descending order of predominance (ADH guide §1.4(4))
• The statement "This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens." (ADH guide §1.4(5))
• Disclosed on a label affixed to the package, or to the container when sold from a bulk container (then also a separate written document with all disclosures given to the buyer at the time of sale) (ADH guide §1.4)
• Online sales: the website must include all of the above and the package itself must still be labeled (ADH guide §1.4(b))
• Pickled cucumbers / acidified vegetables (pH ≤ 4.6): label with a unique batch number and keep batch records (ADH guide §2)
• No state requirement for net quantity — the Act exempts homemade food from ADH labeling rules; federal labeling rules may still apply

Example: an Arkansas label for a bag of butter cookies

An illustrative worksheet with the lines Arkansas requires, and placeholders for your own details. It is not an approved product label or a tested recipe. Replace the ingredients and the measured package quantity with your actual product information.

The example ingredient order follows the input weights in our butter-cookie recipe. It does not establish the weight of a finished bag. Any additions or supplier sub-ingredients must be reflected in your own label. The statement's size on this web page is not a print-size check; compare the printed label with the rule above.

Before you print

1. Match every ingredient and sub-ingredient to your actual recipe and supplier labels.
2. Check the allergen declaration, the filled package's net quantity, and producer details.
3. Include the Arkansas statement and check its size on the final printed label.
4. Review the whole package, including any required information placed outside the Nutrition Facts panel.

Arkansas cottage food label questions

Does an Arkansas cottage food label need a home-kitchen statement?

Yes. The label must say "This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens.". Two-sentence statement quoted by the Arkansas Department of Health Homemade Food Production Guide (May 21, 2026) as the Act's required disclosure — print it verbatim. No type size, font or panel is fixed in the ADH guide. It must appear on a label affixed to the package (or to the bulk container, plus a written document handed to the buyer); for online sales the website must also show it.

Do I need a license or registration to sell cottage food in Arkansas?

No. No ADH permit, registration, inspection or fee for homemade non-TCS food (ADH guide: 'exempt from ADH permitting and inspection requirements'). Optional: a Food Freedom Act business ID number from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture (application via the Department's forms page) to use in place of your name, address and phone number on the label.

Is there a sales limit for Arkansas cottage food?

No annual cap is set: none stated in official sources — the ADH Homemade Food Production Guide (May 2026) sets no annual sales cap (argument from silence; statute text not fetched).

Where can I sell cottage food in Arkansas?

Direct to the informed end consumer in person, by telephone or online, by the producer, an agent of the producer, or a third-party vendor (retail shop or grocery store, kept separate from inspected products); from the home/farm/office retail space or a third-party retail location; within Arkansas or to another state if all federal laws are complied with; delivery by producer, agent, vendor or third-party carrier (mail, parcel). Not to restaurants for use in the restaurant (ADH guide §1.3).

Does an Arkansas cottage food label need a date?

Yes. Arkansas prints the date produced on every package, so the label changes with each batch.

Can I leave my home address off an Arkansas cottage food label?

Yes, if you use the issued Arkansas Department of Agriculture Food Freedom Act ID number instead. The name, address, and telephone number of the producer — OR, for producers who do not wish to disclose this for safety reasons, an identification number issued by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture used instead of that information (ADH guide §1.4(2))

Does an Arkansas cottage food label need a Nutrition Facts panel?

Not by state cottage-food law unless a nutrient content or health claim is made; the federal small-business exemption usually applies. If you choose to print a panel, it has to be complete and correctly formatted.