What license do I need to sell prepackaged food in California?
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What license do I need to sell prepackaged food in California
produce food at home to sell in various neighborhoods around the country. Together, they make up the homemade or "cottage food" business, a modest but expanding sector of the economy. The concept ties into a broader trend toward healthy eating and ethical sourcing as people become more interested in the origins and producers of their food. Since the California Homemade Food Act was passed in 2012, California has been at the forefront of the cottage food movement. In 2013, 2018, and 2021, new legislation were implemented that gave cottage food producers more independence. The most recent changes increase the cottage food producers' sales thresholds and let them mail their goods anywhere in California.
What license do I need to sell prepackaged food in California
According to the Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) law, which went into force in 2019, California is one of a small number of jurisdictions that permits people to make and sell cooked meals, including ones that contain meat. Regulating microenterprise home kitchens is only covered by the law in cities and counties that specifically choose to participate and establish legislation governing them. Otherwise, it is still prohibited to sell home-cooked food.
As of March 2022, there were at least 4,781 cottage food enterprises and 144 microenterprise home kitchen operations operating in California, according to data acquired from county health authorities.
Californian cuisine types
foods available, What license do I need to sell prepackaged food in California
Cottage Class A food Cottage Class B food Small Business Home Kitchen Operations
What Foods Can I Sell in California That Are Shelf-Stable?
The Department of Public Health must approve a list of foods, although there is an application process to add other products.
The Department of Public Health must approve a list of foods, although there is an application process to add other products.
No limitations as long as the dish is consumed the same day it is prepared.
Can I Sell Baked Goods in California that Have Been Refrigerated?
No
What license do I need to sell prepackaged food in California
Insofar as the food is sold the same day it is prepared, yes.
Are Meat Sales Allowed in California?
No No
A meal, yes.
Is it Legal to Sell Pickled or Acidified Foods in California?
No No No
In California, Am I Allowed to Sell Low-Acid Canned Goods?
No
In California, Can I Sell Fermented Foods?
No
Read more
Cottage food, or food prepared in domestic kitchens for sale, is regulated in several jurisdictions. California enables small-scale food producers to sell "low-risk" items from a list that has been certified by the Department of Public Health that do not need to be kept at a specific temperature for safety. Most baked goods, candies, syrups, mustards, nut butters, pastries, preserves, caramel corn, honey, granola, candied apples, crackers, pretzels, and dry goods including cereal, coffee beans, and fruit leather are among the permitted items. Pickles, juices, and goods containing meat are prohibited from sale by small-scale food manufacturers in California.
What license do I need to sell prepackaged food in California
Home chefs are allowed to sell meals that involve meat in towns and counties that enable microenterprise home kitchen operations. They are also allowed to utilize outdoor wood-burning stoves and barbecues. Food must all be "made, cooked, and served on the same day," though. Additionally, the sale of pickled or acidified food, raw oysters, and the production of dairy products are all prohibited for MEHKOs and cottage food producers.
local eateries in California
Venue and Sales Restriction
Cottage Class A Cottage Restaurant Class B food Annual Sales Cap for Home Kitchen Businesses: \$75,000 \$150,000 \$50,000
Where in California Can I Sell My Own Food Directly to Customers?
No limitations
Only at home, either for delivery or eating in.
Can I Sell My Own Food to Restaurants and Grocery Stores as Retail Outlets?
No
Online Orders: Yes No
California features a two-tier cottage food system. The first tier (Class A) permits the direct sale of cottage foods to customers at establishments such as farmers' markets, events, and home delivery. Third-party sales are permitted in retail establishments including restaurants and supermarkets under the second tier (Class B). Before Assembly Bill 1144 became law in 2021, the annual gross revenue cap for both levels was set at $50,000. For the first tier, the new caps
are \$75,000, and for the second tier, they are \$150,000. The new rule also permits both categories of cottage food producers to market their goods throughout California beyond county lines. Both categories of cottage food producers are allowed to sell their goods online, transport them to buyers by mail, and use third parties to complete the transaction.
What license do I need to sell prepackaged food in California
The law is much harsher for small businesses that operate out of their homes. Only from their own homes, either for takeout or eating in, can home cooks sell directly to customers. Microenterprise home kitchen businesses are limited to selling no more than 30 meals per day or 60 meals per week, in addition to the \$50,000 annual sales maximum. MEHKOs may only employ third-party delivery methods where the customer is a person with a physical or mental impairment.
How to begin in California
Legal Requirements
Cottage Class A Cottage Restaurant Class B food Are local laws preempted or overridden in microenterprise home kitchen operations? Inspections required before starting? No No No. To permit microenterprise operations in home kitchens, cities and counties must choose to do so.
Required: License, Permit, or Registration
Recipe approval or lab testing is necessary, yes,
Required Food Handler Training
Yes
The county health department in California requires a permit for both microenterprise home kitchen businesses and small-scale food manufacturers. The California Department of Public Health-approved food processor course must be completed as the initial stage. California cottage food manufacturers must complete a self-certification checklist in order to obtain a Class A permit. Except in cases of consumer complaints or investigations into food-borne illnesses, there is no requirement for a house inspection. County-specific permit costs range from \$100 to \$150 per year on average.
Californians must pass an annual physical inspection in order to obtain a Class B or MEHKO permit. County-specific permit costs range normally from \$150 to \$250 per year. Septic systems and/or private water sources require further documentation. Smoking is not permitted in the kitchen at any time, and pets are not permitted there. Only one non-family employee is permitted for both Californian home kitchen businesses and cottage food producers.
What license do I need to sell prepackaged food in California
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