Cottage food operators in Middlesex County must hold a state Cottage Food Operator Permit from the NJ Department of Health under N.J.A.C. 8:24-11. Gross annual sales are capped at $50,000, the permit costs $100, and it is valid for two years.
New Jersey regulates home-based food businesses at the state level. Under N.J.A.C. 8:24-11, a person selling cottage foods such as baked goods, jams, and other shelf-stable items must obtain a Cottage Food Operator Permit issued by the NJ Department of Health, not by Middlesex County. The rule caps gross annual sales from cottage food products at $50,000 before taxes and expenses. The application fee is $100 and the permit is valid for two years; applicants must hold a food protection manager certificate. Permit holders are exempt from home kitchen inspection but must label products with the required statement noting the kitchen has not been inspected by the Department of Health. Only shelf-stable, non-potentially-hazardous foods are allowed. Local zoning still governs
Selling cottage foods without the state permit, exceeding the $50,000 sales cap, or producing prohibited potentially-hazardous foods can bring enforcement by the NJ Department of Health, permit denial or revocation, and orders to cease sales.
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