Nebraska Cottage Food Label Requirements

The required label statement

Recommended rather than mandated in Nebraska; the builder adds it by default.

This food was prepared in a kitchen that is not subject to regulation and inspection by the regulatory authority and may contain allergens.

Nebraska mandates NO home-kitchen sentence on the package label. § 81-2,280(5) requires a "clearly visible notification" that the food was prepared in a kitchen not subject to regulation and inspection by a regulatory authority and may contain allergens — given at the sale location (farmers market, fair, festival, craft show, public event) or, for pickup/delivery sales, at the producer's home, on the producer's website and in every advertisement. The sentence above is NDA's wording for that sign; printing it on the label is optional.

What must be on your label

• Name and address of the producer on the package or container label (§ 81-2,280(6)); NDA: a specific mailing address where you can be contacted, not just a city
• Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods only: ingredients in descending order of predominance (§ 81-2,280(6))
• Not a label item — a clearly visible notification that the food was prepared in a kitchen that is not subject to regulation and inspection by a regulatory authority and may contain allergens, at the sale location, the producer's home, website and advertisements (§ 81-2,280(5))
• No label law requires the product name, an ingredient list for non-TCS foods, net quantity, a date or the producer's phone number — federal rules may still apply to packaged food

Example: a Nebraska label for a bag of butter cookies

An illustrative worksheet with the lines Nebraska 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 Nebraska 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.

Nebraska cottage food label questions

Does a Nebraska cottage food label need a home-kitchen statement?

It is recommended, not mandated. Nebraska mandates NO home-kitchen sentence on the package label. § 81-2,280(5) requires a "clearly visible notification" that the food was prepared in a kitchen not subject to regulation and inspection by a regulatory authority and may contain allergens — given at the sale location (farmers market, fair, festival, craft show, public event) or, for pickup/delivery sales, at the producer's home, on the producer's website and in every advertisement. The sentence above is NDA's wording for that sign; printing it on the label is optional.

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

Yes. Register online with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture before any sales (§ 81-2,280(4)): name, address, phone, proof of an accredited/approved food safety course, and private-well nitrate/bacteria test results if well water is used. One-time registration; NDA's page states no fee amount; confirmation appears on NDA's public list of registered producers. Exception: a producer selling only non-TCS food directly to consumers at a farmers market need not register or take the course (§ 81-2,280(3)–(4)). No inspection.

Is there a sales limit for Nebraska cottage food?

No annual cap is set: none — § 81-2,280 sets no annual sales cap (argument from silence; none appears on NDA's page either).

Where can I sell cottage food in Nebraska?

Direct to the consumer only: farmers markets, fairs, festivals, craft shows, other public events, and pickup at or delivery from the private home (§ 81-2,245.01(7)); no wholesale or sales through shops (NDA Q&A). Non-TCS food may be shipped by U.S. mail or commercial delivery; TCS food must be delivered in person by the producer, held at safe temperature and transported for no more than two hours (§ 81-2,280(7)). Interstate sales are not addressed in the statute.

Does a Nebraska 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.