Louisiana Cottage Food Law Statewide Production Rules

Under R.S. 40:4.10 and Department of Health regulations, a cottage food operator may prepare non-potentially-hazardous foods such as baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, honey, pickles, and dried mixes in a home kitchen. The product must be labeled with the producer's name and address, ingredients, allergen statement, and the disclosure that the food was prepared in a kitchen not subject to state inspection. Sales are capped at $20,000 gross annually and must be direct to the end consumer at home, farmers markets, fairs, or roadside stands. The Louisiana Department of Health enforces compliance, and local health permits are not required for foods squarely within the statute.

Selling potentially hazardous foods, missing required labels, wholesaling through retailers, or exceeding the $20,000 cap voids the statutory exemption and subjects the producer to retail food enforcement.