Illinois Cottage Food Laws: What Home Cooks Need to Know

I've seen a lot of talk about what the rules are for cottage food businesses in Illinois, so I decided to do my own research to find out what the law actually says exactly.

Cottage food operations are essentially home-based food businesses where people prepare and sell certain approved foods from their primary residence or, in some cases, an appropriately designed kitchen on a farm.

Read More: Illinois Shoppers: Clear Eyes Eye Drops Recalled Nationwide 

Illinois allows cottage food operators to sell directly to consumers.  This can include sales made by the owner, a family member, or an employee.  However, these products generally can't be sold for resale or through retail food establishments.  There are also specific requirements that operators need to follow when it comes to packaging and labeling.  Products typically need to list their ingredients and identify applicable allergens.

Not every type of food is allowed under Illinois cottage food regulations. 

Canva

Prohibited food items from the food guide:

• Meat, poultry, fish, seafood, or shellfish;
• • Dairy, except as an ingredient in a non-potentially hazardous baked good or candy, or as an ingredient in a baked good frosting, such as buttercream;
• • Eggs, except as an ingredient in a non-potentially hazardous food, including dry noodles, or as an ingredient in a baked good frosting such as buttercream, if the eggs are not raw;
• • Pumpkin pies, sweet potato pies, cheesecakes, custard pies, creme pies, and pastries with potentially hazardous fillings or toppings; • Garlic in oil or oil infused with garlic, except if the garlic oil is acidified;
• • Low-acid canned foods; • Sprouts;
• • Cut leafy greens, except for cut leafy greens that are dehydrated, acidified or blanched and frozen;
• • Cut or puréed fresh tomato or melon;
• • Dehydrated tomato or melon;
• • Frozen cut melon;
• • Wild-harvested, non-cultivated mushrooms;
• • Alcoholic beverages; Kombucha

Read More: What Restaurant Items Do Diners Steal Most Often?

Anyone who wants to operate under the food rules must register with the local health department where they live.  This makes it important for anyone considering a cottage food business to check both state requirements and local regulations.

Illinois does provide an opportunity for people to turn their cooking and baking skills into a small business, but there are rules that must be followed.  Before bashing anyone or calling the Health Department on them, maybe check to see if they're even breaking rules in the first place!  Saves everyone a whole lot of stress.