Wyoming Cottage Food Label Requirements

The required label statement

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

This food was made in a home kitchen, is not regulated or inspected and may contain allergens

Wyoming mandates NO home-kitchen disclaimer sentence for direct producer-to-consumer sales — homemade food sold in compliance with the Act is exempt from state packaging and labeling requirements (W.S. 11-49-103(b)). The sentence above is required ONLY when non-potentially hazardous food or dairy is sold through a third-party retail location or grocery store: the food must be kept off the shelf used for licensed products and be "clearly and prominently labeled with" the sentence (W.S. 11-49-103(k), lower-case as written in the statute). No type size is fixed. For direct sales the producer's only duty is to inform the end consumer that the food is not certified, labeled, licensed, packaged, regulated or inspected (11-49-103(e)) — printing the sentence is a voluntary way to do that.

What must be on your label

• No labelling required for direct sales: homemade food produced, sold and consumed in compliance with the Act is exempt from state licensure, permitting, inspection, packaging and labeling requirements (W.S. 11-49-103(b))
• Informed-consumer rule: the producer shall inform the end consumer that any food sold at a farmers market or through ranch, farm or home-based sales under the Act is not certified, labeled, licensed, packaged, regulated or inspected (W.S. 11-49-103(e)); an "informed end consumer" is the last purchaser, who does not resell and has been informed the product is not licensed, regulated or inspected (W.S. 11-49-102(a)(v))
• Retail space at the ranch, farm or home where the food is produced: must inform the end consumer that the food has not been inspected and display a sign saying so (W.S. 11-49-103(d))
• Third-party retail location or grocery store selling non-potentially hazardous homemade food, eggs or dairy: the seller must inform the consumer (11-49-103(e)); the food may not share a shelf/display with food from a licensed establishment and must be clearly and prominently labeled with "this food was made in a home kitchen, is not regulated or inspected and may contain allergens" (W.S. 11-49-103(k))
• Poultry sold under the Act (up to 1,000 birds/yr of own raising) must not be adulterated or misbranded (W.S. 11-49-103(c)(v)(A))
• Producer-raised beef/lamb/pork/goat meat (W.S. 11-49-103(n), 2024–2025 amendments; NOT yet in force — effective only after the Governor certifies that federal law allows uninspected direct-to-consumer meat sales, 11-49-103(o)): a prominent written warning delivered at sale or on the package label stating the meat has not been inspected and is not regulated, that the buyer agrees not to sell, donate or redistribute it, and describing the producer's animal-health and processing standards; no statement implying Department of Agriculture approval
• Potentially hazardous homemade food (other than eggs and dairy) may be sold only by the producer or the producer's designated agent, not by third-party vendors (W.S. 11-49-103(c)(i))

Example: a Wyoming label for a bag of butter cookies

An illustrative worksheet with the lines Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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.

Wyoming cottage food label questions

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

It is recommended, not mandated. Wyoming mandates NO home-kitchen disclaimer sentence for direct producer-to-consumer sales — homemade food sold in compliance with the Act is exempt from state packaging and labeling requirements (W.S. 11-49-103(b)). The sentence above is required ONLY when non-potentially hazardous food or dairy is sold through a third-party retail location or grocery store: the food must be kept off the shelf used for licensed products and be "clearly and prominently labeled with" the sentence (W.S. 11-49-103(k), lower-case as written in the statute). No type size is fixed. For direct sales the producer's only duty is to inform the end consumer that the food is not certified, labeled, licensed, packaged, regulated or inspected (11-49-103(e)) — printing the sentence is a voluntary way to do that.

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

No. No licence, permit, registration, inspection or fee for homemade food sold in compliance with the Act (W.S. 11-49-103(b)). A 'producer' is anyone who grows, harvests, prepares or processes food on owned or leased property and stays under 250,000 individual products and $250,000 gross revenue per year (W.S. 11-49-102(a)(vi)). The Department of Agriculture may assist or inspect at the producer's request (11-49-103(j)).

Is there a sales limit for Wyoming cottage food?

Yes: Producer ceiling: not more than 250,000 individual food or drink products per year and not more than $250,000 gross annual revenue from food and drink products (W.S. 11-49-102(a)(vi)); no separate per-product cap.

Where can I sell cottage food in Wyoming?

Wyoming only — transactions must occur in Wyoming and not involve interstate commerce (W.S. 11-49-103(c)(iii)–(iv)). Direct producer-to-informed-end-consumer, or through a written-designated agent; non-potentially hazardous food, eggs and dairy may also be sold by a third-party vendor such as a retail shop or grocery store (11-49-103(c)(i)). Venues: farmers markets, farms, ranches, producer's home or office, the third-party seller's retail location, or any location the producer and consumer agree to (11-49-103(c)(vi)); delivery by the producer or agent at any agreed location (11-49-102(a)(i)). Homemade food may not be sold, served or used as an ingredient in a commercial food establishment (11-49-103(d)). Meat sales limited to the listed exceptions (poultry ≤1,000 birds, rabbit, farm-raised fish, animal shares, live animals).

Does a Wyoming 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.