Missouri's cottage food law lets Clay County residents sell home-baked goods, canned jams and jellies, and dried herbs directly to consumers with no license, no inspection, and no sales cap. Products just need a home-kitchen label.
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 196.298, a cottage food operation in Clay County can make baked goods, canned jams or jellies, and dried herbs or herb mixes at home and sell them directly to consumers with no food license or health inspection. A 2022 amendment (HB 1697) removed the former $50,000 annual sales cap, so sales are now unlimited. The exemption covers only those non-hazardous products; foods needing refrigeration for safety are excluded. Each item must be labeled with the operation's name and address and a statement that the food is not inspected by the state or local health department. Online sales are allowed only within Missouri.
Selling foods outside the allowed list, refrigerated products, or omitting the required home-kitchen label removes the exemption and subjects the seller to full food-establishment permitting and inspection by the Clay County Public Health Center.
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See how Clay County's cottage food operations rules stack up against other locations.
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