Selling Food from Home California 2022
How to Sell Your Homemade Foods in California, According to the Cottage Food Laws and Regulations in California, Selling Food from Home California 2022
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Selling Food from Home California 2022
The Laws, Rules, and Facts Regarding Cottage Food Operations in California
The date September 21, 2012 was chosen as the official date of the implementation of the California cottage food law.
On September 21, 2012, Governor Brown signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 1616, which was subsequently assigned to Chapter 415 of the Statutes of 2012. The bill went into effect on January 1, 2013. People who run what are known as "cottage food operations" (CFOs) will be able to prepare and/or package foods that do not pose a health risk in the comfort of their own homes thanks to this measure.
Overview
What kinds of foods am I allowed to make at home to sell?
Selling Food from Home California 2022
As of the first of the year 2018, the following is a list compiled by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) of the food products that have been granted approval:
baked foods like as breads, biscuit, churros, cakes, pastries, and tortillas that do not have fillings of cream, custard, or meat. Examples include:
Eggs, cream, or cream cheese are not components of buttercream desserts such as buttercream frosting, buttercream icing, buttercream fondant, or gum paste.
For baked cakes or cupcakes that do not have fillings of cream, custard, or meat, or anything else that needs to be refrigerated, you can use the icing or frosting that is specified in the line above.
candies, including brittle and toffee, amongst others.
Non-perishable goods that are covered with chocolate, such as nuts and dried fruits, are delicious.
Dried fruit dried pasta.
Dried or dehydrated veggies
dried soup mixes based on vegetarian ingredients dried baking mixes
Dried fruit powders.
Mixtures of dried grains.
Plain frosting
Selling Food from Home California 2022
Fruit pies, fruit enchiladas, and fruit tamales.
granola, cereal, and trail mix.
Chocolate powder was used.
Herb mixes and dried brown paste.
Honey and syrup made from sweet sorghum.
products such as jams, jellies, preserves, and fruits butters that adhere to the standard outlined in Title 21 Part 150 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
marshmallows that are made without the use of eggs.
combinations of nuts and butters made from nuts.
Popcorn
Balls made of popcorn
Roasted coffee and dry tea seasoned with vinegar and mustard.
Pizelles with waffle cones for dessert.
Candy made of cotton.
Apples covered in candy
Candies and sweets including salted caramel, fudge, marshmallow bars, chocolate-covered marshmallows, almonds, and hard candy, as well as any combination of these,
Dried or dehydrated veggies
Mixtures of dried grains.
Selling Food from Home California 2022
Donuts and waffles, either fried or baked.
Powdered mixes for hot chocolate that have been dried or bits of cocoa that have been hardened.
a balsamic vinegar with fruit infusions
crisp potato veggies and fresh produce.
Notes specifically for fruit butters, jams, jellies, and preserved fruits and vegetables
Cottage food enterprises that create jams, jellies, preserves, and other related items need to ensure that their products meet the legal established standards of identity requirements for those products, which are outlined in 21 CFR Part 150. These requirements can be found in the regulation. The integrity of the food product must be preserved at all costs for the sake of the regulation, which will guarantee that customers will always receive what they anticipate. If the product's name and the ingredients that are specified on the label are not factually accurate and do not conform to the legal definitions and standards of identification, then the product may be misbranded. Cottage food enterprises are not allowed to manufacture products that contain any additional components that are not specifically named in 21 CFR 150. The chemistry of the meal can be changed when additional components are added or when the profiles of existing substances are altered. This can make it easier for certain bacteria and poisons to proliferate in the food given the correct conditions. For instance, the use of peppers (such as jalapeno peppers) in the preparation of pepper jelly is not permitted by 21 CFR 150. Furthermore, the inclusion of this low-acid ingredient has the potential to result in the production of botulism toxin in the finished product if the appropriate precautions are not taken.
Foods that are not allowed
These are the following:
foods that have been processed, fermented, dairy products, and juices
Products that have been pickled, foods that are acidified such as chutneys and salsas, foods that contain meat, and any item that needs to be refrigerated are not permitted to be sold as cottage foods in the state of California.
Selling Food from Home California 2022
If the concept of a cottage food does not apply to the food product you are selling,
Try not to give up. Through the use of a startup strategy, it is possible that you will still be able to produce and sell it economically.
To begin, you should investigate whether or not there is a commercial kitchen in your area that you may rent space in.
Second, if this doesn't work, you might try hiring a co-packer to prepare the food for you. This is an option if the first option doesn't work.
Selling Food from Home California 2022
Visit this website for more information about selling products that do not qualify as "cottage foods," including a list of prohibited ingredients.
Additional Prerequisites:
PowerPoint Presentation Regarding the California Cottage Food Law
Register with the local Environmental Health office, or obtain permits from them.
Participate in a training program for food handlers.
Put a cap on annual sales of no more than $50,000.
Only sell cottage foods that have had their hygiene and operating procedures approved.
Label Requirements
Local Requirements
You are required to obtain a permission from the local Health Department in California. The contact information for both the state and local health departments may be found in California.
There are two different types of permits available to you depending on whether you intend to sell all of your food products directly to customers yourself or whether you intend to sell some of your products through a local store or restaurant. If you intend to sell all of your food products directly to consumers yourself, you will need the first type of permit.
Direct sales to end users only are allowed with a Class A permit. You are required to have a Class A permit in the event that you (and anybody associated with you) will sell Exclusively directly to end users of the product. This includes selling your food product at a farmers market, at roadside stands, at festival and other events, from your house, or anywhere else where you or an employee are selling the food product directly to consumers. This also includes the sale of wedding cakes and other delicacies that will be purchased by an individual who is looking for them to feed their guests at an event that they are hosting.
If you plan to sell any amount of your foods to a store, restaurant, café, or any other business that will sell or resell the product to consumers, then you need a Class B permit. This permit covers direct sales as well as indirect sales. This includes any transactions made on a wholesale level, which are likewise required to be limited to occurring within your own county, unless the other county expressly permits such activity.
Selling Food from Home California 2022
According to the Code, a "Cottage Food Production Operation" is a person who, in the person's home, produces food products that are not potentially hazardous foods. These food items include bakery products, jams, jellies, candy, fruit butter, and other products that are similar to those specified in the rules. These foods are required to have accurate labels, or else they will be regarded as being misbranded or adulterated.
CFO stands for "cottage food operator," which is you!
Acidified foods, canned foods with a low acid content, possibly hazardous foods, or foods that are not potentially dangerous but are not included above are examples of foods that are prohibited. When we talk about foods that are low in acidity, we are referring to those that have a completed equilibrium pH that is higher than 4.6 and a water activity that is higher than 0.85. A low-acid food that has had acids or acid foods added to it is referred to as an acidified food (Ex. Beans, cucumbers, cabbage, puddings, etc.). Because it is in a form that is able to promote the rapid and progressive growth of germs that can cause illness or produce toxins, food that has the potential to be hazardous must be stored at a temperature that is well controlled
Labeling requirements
Cottage food production operations are required to properly label each and every one of their food products, which includes include the following information on the label of each individual unit of food product that is supplied or distributed for sale:
You may find more information about the labeling regulations in California as well as resources to help you comply on this website.
Where are the food products that are produced by Cottage Food Production Operations allowed to be sold?
It is illegal to sell products made in a cottage food operation in another state. To put it another way, the product may only be sold within the state.
Permissible sites are:
From within your own home
At bake sales, food swaps, and bazaars held in conjunction with transitory festivities or holidays
At roadside stalls and places designated as "Certified Farmers' Markets.""
Through membership in a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program
*Direct sales falling within the aforementioned categories 2, 3, and 4 may require extra permits.
In this section, we will cover some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the California Homemade Food Act.
Recommendations:
You should probably do the following things on top of what is required since it makes sense, it is the right thing to do, and it will reduce your liability.
Training
Within the first three months after registering their business, all CFOs, their workers, and members of their home who are involved in the domestic food operation are required to take a food processor training course. Thereafter, this need must be met every three years. CFOs are allowed to have one employee working full time or the equivalent
Food safety training needs to be completed by every person who helps prepare foods in a cottage setting. They have the option of enrolling in one of the food handler courses that have been accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and are currently necessary for food handlers working in retail food facilities. A number of ANSI courses can be taken for a low fee either online or in a traditional classroom setting and are offered in a range of languages. It is required that a food handler card or certificate, which is awarded upon successful completion of the course, be produced to the local agency that is responsible for the enforcement of the regulation.
Then you will be able to determine the courses to enroll in:
This page has a comprehensive listing of all of the Food Handler Certification Courses that are accredited in the state of California.
Evaluation of pH levels
Utilizing a pH meter that has been freshly calibrated on the same day of usage is highly recommended.
This is the one I use because it is dependable and affordable. Additionally, this pH meter is excellent; but, it is not always accessible.
If the product typically has a pH of 4.0 or lower and the range of the paper includes a pH of 4.6, you can use short-range paper pH test strips instead of litmus paper. Litmus paper is also known by its more common name, litmus test paper.
Record-keeping is advised
Maintain a written record of each batch of the product that is produced for sale, including the following information:
Recipe, complete with instructions and a list of ingredients
The quantity packaged and sold
Canning date
When and where sales will take place
Gross sales receipts
Conclusions drawn from any pH test
Sanitation
Selling Food from Home California 2022
In spite of the fact that inspections are not obligatory, you ought to take into consideration the following:
Make sure you utilize machinery that has been thoroughly cleaned and sterilized before each use.
Before and after use, thoroughly clean and sterilize all work surfaces with a solution of bleach and water. Separate raw materials from other types of uncooked foods.
Keep family pets away from the workspace, maintain a clean environment, and ensure that there is appropriate illumination.
Keep window and door screens in good order to keep insects out
While working, frequently wash your hands and consider having your water tested annually if you are utilizing a private well.
More resources:
The county of Los Angeles, like with other counties, possesses valuable resources, including: These are PDF files that can be opened in your web browser, downloaded, or printed.
Information on how to get in touch with local and state health departments in California