Illinois Cottage Food Label Requirements

The required label statement

This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens. If you have safety concerns, contact your local health department.

410 ILCS 625/4(b)(7)(E): the phrase above "in prominent lettering" on a "prominent label" affixed to the prepackaged product. No point size is fixed. Separately, at the point of sale (placard at a physical display, or a message on the online sales interface) the shorter notice "This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens." must be shown (§4(b)(10)).

What must be on your label

• Name of the cottage food operation and the unit of local government in which it is located (410 ILCS 625/4(b)(7)(A))
• Identifying registration number from the local health department's certificate of registration AND the name of the municipality or county in which the registration was filed (§4(b)(7)(B))
• Common or usual name of the food product (§4(b)(7)(C))
• All ingredients, including any color, artificial flavor and preservative, in descending order by predominance of weight, shown with common or usual names (§4(b)(7)(D))
• The phrase in prominent lettering: "This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens. If you have safety concerns, contact your local health department." (§4(b)(7)(E))
• The date the product was processed (§4(b)(7)(F)) — on every label
• Allergen labeling as specified under federal labeling requirements (§4(b)(7)(G)); IDPH lists milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, sesame
• Net weight — not in the statute's own list, but packaging must conform to the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act labeling requirements (§4(b)(7)) and the IDPH Cottage Food Labeling checklist lists net weight as required
• Product must be prepackaged; the local health department where it is sold may permit non-prepackaged sale, in which case other prominent written notice with the same information goes to the purchaser (§4(b)(9))
• Point-of-sale notice (placard or online message) with the shorter home-kitchen sentence (§4(b)(10))
• Shipped products: non-TCS only, Illinois only, sealed to reveal tampering (§4(b)(12))
• Optional: "Illinois-grown", "Illinois-sourced" or "Illinois farm product" designation if the product qualifies (§4(b)(8))

Example: an Illinois label for a bag of butter cookies

An illustrative worksheet with the lines Illinois 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 Illinois 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.

Illinois cottage food label questions

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

Yes. The label must say "This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens. If you have safety concerns, contact your local health department.". 410 ILCS 625/4(b)(7)(E): the phrase above "in prominent lettering" on a "prominent label" affixed to the prepackaged product. No point size is fixed. Separately, at the point of sale (placard at a physical display, or a message on the online sales interface) the shorter notice "This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens." must be shown (§4(b)(10)).

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

Yes. Annual registration with the local health department of the unit of local government where the operation is located (adjacent county's LHD if the county has none); fee may not exceed $50; LHD may offer self-certification (410 ILCS 625/4(b)(1.3), (c)). The person preparing or packaging must be a Department-approved certified food protection manager (§4(b)(6)). Private-well operators may be required to pass a water test; acidified/fermented foods and canned tomatoes need tested recipes or a food safety plan and pH testing; baked goods with cheese may need lab verification. No routine inspection — inspection on complaint, illness or suspected hazard (§4(d)).

Is there a sales limit for Illinois cottage food?

No annual cap is set: none — the current 410 ILCS 625/4 contains no gross-sales cap (argument from silence; the pre-2022 statute's $25,000 cap no longer appears).

Where can I sell cottage food in Illinois?

Direct to consumers for their own consumption, not for resale: farmers' markets; fairs, festivals, public events or online; pickup from the operator's home or farm (subject to local law — Chicago-size municipalities may apply home-business rules); delivery to the customer; pickup from third-party private property with consent; mobile farmers markets (§4(b)(11)). Shipping allowed within Illinois only, non-TCS foods only, tamper-evident seal (§4(b)(12)). Sales may be made outside the registering unit of local government (§4(b)(1.3)).

Does an Illinois cottage food label need a date?

Yes. Illinois prints the date processed on every package, so the label changes with each batch.

Does an Illinois 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.