Iowa Cottage Food Label Requirements

The required label statement

This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state licensing and inspection.

Exact sentence from Iowa Code §137F.20(2)(d) and 481 IAC 30.13(1)"g"(4), with the closing period. No type size, contrast or placement rule.

What must be on your label

• Information to identify the name and address, phone number, or electronic mail address of the person preparing the food — name plus at least one contact method (Iowa Code §137F.20(2)(a); 481 IAC 30.13(1)"g"(1))
• Common name of the food (§137F.20(2)(b))
• Ingredients in descending order of predominance (§137F.20(2)(c))
• The statement "This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state licensing and inspection." (§137F.20(2)(d))
• If the food contains one or more major food allergens: an additional allergen statement identifying each major allergen by its common name — milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, sesame (§137F.20(2)(d); DIAL)
• Home-processed and home-canned pickles, vegetables or fruits only: the date the food was processed and canned, on each container (§137F.20(2)(e); §137F.1(3); 481 IAC 30.13(1)"h"(2))
• Home-canned items must test at equilibrium pH ≤ 4.60 or water activity ≤ 0.85 per batch; batch records available on request including at the point of sale (481 IAC 30.13(1)"h"-"i")
• Sold at a food establishment only in a temporary food establishment operated by the producer, packaged and labeled as above (481 IAC 30.13(1)"j")
• Not required: net quantity, date on ordinary shelf-stable foods — §137F.20(3): compliance with the exemption does not represent compliance with federal law

Example: an Iowa label for a bag of butter cookies

An illustrative worksheet with the lines Iowa 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 Iowa 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.

Iowa cottage food label questions

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

Yes. The label must say "This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state licensing and inspection.". Exact sentence from Iowa Code §137F.20(2)(d) and 481 IAC 30.13(1)"g"(4), with the closing period. No type size, contrast or placement rule.

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

No. None. Cottage food is exempt from all state licensing, permitting, inspection, packaging and labeling laws when produced in a private residence, non-TCS, and sold and delivered by the producer directly to the consumer (§137F.20(1); 481 IAC 30.13(1)). Excluded: foods needing time/temperature control, milk products (ch. 192/194), meat and poultry (ch. 189A), unpasteurized juice. TCS or wholesale products need a DIAL Home Food Processing Establishment licence ($50/year, ≤ $50,000 gross sales, food safety training).

Is there a sales limit for Iowa cottage food?

No annual cap is set: none — no cap appears in Iowa Code §137F.20, 481 IAC 30.13 or on the DIAL cottage food page (argument from silence; the separate Home Food Processing Establishment licence is capped at $50,000/year).

Where can I sell cottage food in Iowa?

Sold and delivered by the producer directly to the consumer, or delivered by mail or by an agent of the producer such as an employee; sales may be made in person, remotely, by telephone, by internet or through the producer's agent (§137F.20(1)). Not through food establishments except a producer-operated temporary food establishment (481 IAC 30.13(1)"j"). Out-of-state shipping is not addressed in the statute (federal law governs).

Does an Iowa 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.