Mississippi Cottage Laws

Have you always dreamed of turning your love for baking into a small business? If you live in Mississippi, you're in for some great news! The state's cottage food laws make it incredibly easy to start selling your homemade treats right from your own kitchen – no expensive commercial kitchen required!

Whether you're thinking about selling cookies at the farmer's market or starting a small cake business, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know in simple, straightforward terms.

The Simple Truth: Getting Started is Easy

Here's what makes Mississippi so beginner-friendly:

• No license required – You don't need any permits from the health department
• No fees – Getting started costs nothing in government fees
• No training required – While recommended, food safety training isn't mandatory
• No home inspections – The health department won't be knocking on your door
• Start immediately – You can begin selling as soon as you're ready

What Foods Can You Make and Sell?

The key rule is simple: you can only make and sell “non-potentially hazardous” foods. These are foods that don't need refrigeration and are safe to store at room temperature.

✅ Foods You CAN Make and Sell:

Baked Goods (without cream, custard, or meat fillings):

• Breads, biscuits, and rolls
• Cookies and brownies
• Cakes and cupcakes (no cream-based frostings)
• Pastries and donuts
• Tortillas and pizza crusts
• Wedding cakes (non-cream based)

Sweet Treats:

• Candy and confections
• Chocolate-covered non-perishable items (like nuts, pretzels, fruit – except melons)
• Marshmallows

Snacks and Dry Goods:

• Granola, cereal, and trail mixes
• Popcorn and caramel corn
• Nuts and seeds
• Crackers and pretzels
• Dried pasta
• Dried spices and dry rubs
• Dry baking mixes

Preserves and Condiments:

• Jams, jellies, and preserves
• Fruit pies
• Vinegar and mustard
• Many types of pickles and pickled foods

❌ Foods You CANNOT Make and Sell:

Mississippi cottage food producers may not sell meat, fish, poultry, dairy products (including custard pies), eggs (other than air-dried hard cooked eggs with intact shell), cooked vegetables, raw seed sprouts, sliced melons, garlic, cooked potatoes, legumes, beans, nut butters, fruit/vegetable juices or rice.

Important Note: While you can't use eggs, milk, or dairy as standalone products, you CAN use them as ingredients in allowed baked goods like cookies and cakes.

Where Can You Sell Your Products?

Mississippi cottage food producers must sell their products directly to end consumers. The state allows home sales and direct sales at farmers' markets, roadside stands and special events.

✅ WHERE You CAN Sell:

• From your home – customers can come directly to you
• Farmers markets – perfect for regular weekly sales
• Roadside stands – set up your own little shop
• Special events – fairs, festivals, craft shows
• Online advertising – Mississippi House Bill 326 updated the cottage food law in 2020 to allow online advertising, but not online sales

❌ WHERE You CANNOT Sell:

• Online sales – you can advertise online but must complete sales in person
• Retail stores – no selling through grocery stores or coffee shops
• Restaurants – can't wholesale to food service establishments
• Out of state – Mississippi cottage food producers may not sell their goods across state lines
• Mail order/shipping – all transactions must happen in person in Mississippi

How Much Money Can You Make?

Mississippi has an annual sales limit for cottage food entrepreneurs at $35,000. This limit was increased from $20,000 in 2020, giving you more room to grow your business before you'd need to consider moving to a commercial kitchen.

Labeling Requirements: What Goes on Your Products

Every product you sell needs a proper label. Don't worry – it's simpler than it sounds!

Required Information on Every Label:

Mississippi cottage food producers must package their products with labels that include the following information: The name and address of the cottage food operation, product name, ingredients in descending order of predominance or weight, net weight or volume, allergen information as specified by federal labeling requirements, and nutritional information if any nutritional claim is made.

1. Your business name and address – Where customers can find you
2. Product name – What you're selling (like “Chocolate Chip Cookies”)
3. Ingredients list – All ingredients listed by weight, heaviest first
4. Net weight or volume – How much product is in the package
5. Allergen information – The presence of any of the eight major food allergens must be labeled on any cottage food products. These include: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans
6. Nutritional information – Only required if you make any nutritional claims
7. Required disclaimer – The following statement must be printed in at least 10-point type: “Made in a Cottage Food operation that is not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations.”

Sample Label Format:

Jane's Homemade Cookies
123 Main Street, Jackson, MS 39201
(601) 555-1234

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients: Enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), butter (cream, salt), chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin, natural flavors), brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, baking soda, salt

Contains: Wheat, Milk, Eggs, Soy
Net Weight: 12 oz

Made in a Cottage Food operation that is not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations.

Getting Started: Your Step-by-Step Action Plan

Step 1: Choose Your Products

Pick 2-3 items from the allowed foods list that you're confident making consistently well. Start simple – you can always expand later.

Step 2: Perfect Your Recipes

Make sure you can produce the same quality every time. Consistency is key to building customer trust.

Step 3: Create Your Labels

Design labels that include all required information. You can use online services like Vistaprint or create simple labels at home.

Step 4: Set Your Prices

Factor in ingredient costs, your time, and packaging. Don't forget to track your sales toward the $35,000 annual limit.

Step 5: Start Selling

Begin at a local farmers market or start with friends and neighbors. Build up your customer base gradually.

Step 6: Keep Good Records

Track what you make, when you make it, and how much you sell. This helps with inventory and ensures you stay under the annual sales limit.

Food Safety: Protecting Yourself and Your Customers

While Mississippi doesn't require food safety training, it's still incredibly important for your success and your customers' health.

Basic Food Safety Tips:

• Keep it clean – Wash hands frequently and keep your kitchen spotless
• Store properly – Storing these products at home requires adherence to U.S. FDA Retail Food Code guidelines to prevent contamination from insects, chemicals, water damage, or unsanitary conditions
• Label clearly – Always include allergen information to protect customers
• Use fresh ingredients – Don't use expired ingredients in your products
• Cool completely – Make sure baked goods are completely cool before packaging

Consider Getting Certified:

Mississippi does NOT require you take a food safety course. However, knowing the safe handling practices will protect you and your customers, it is always a good idea to take a quick online class and get certified. Many customers appreciate knowing their baker takes food safety seriously.

Special Considerations for Acidified Foods

If you want to make pickles, salsas, or other acidified foods, you need to be extra careful. Due to an increased risk of foodborne illness, specific regulations must be followed to produce acidified products to inhibit the potential deadly toxin made by Clostridium botulinum.

It is highly recommended that people interested in producing and selling these acid or acidified food products receive additional training offered through the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Inspections and Complaints

Here's some good news: Only upon receipt of a complaint, the department's authorized officer or employee may enter and inspect the premises of a cottage food operation to determine compliance with this section and department rules. This means the health department won't randomly inspect your home kitchen – they only investigate if someone files a complaint.

Future Changes to Look For

Mississippi continues to evolve its cottage food laws. There have been recent legislative proposals to increase the sales limit and add new allowed products. Keep an eye on potential changes that might benefit your business, such as proposed bills that would increase the annual sales limit to $50,000.

Pro Tips for Success

Start Small and Local: Begin with your community. Word-of-mouth is powerful for cottage food businesses.

Use Social Media Wisely: Using the Internet and social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) for marketing and advertising products only is allowed. Create beautiful photos of your products and build an online following.

Focus on Quality: Since you can only sell in-person in Mississippi, your reputation is everything. Consistently high-quality products will keep customers coming back.

Build Relationships: Get to know your customers. Personal connections are one of the biggest advantages cottage food businesses have over large commercial operations.

Keep Learning: Join online cottage food communities, follow food safety best practices, and consider taking business courses to grow your skills.

Common Myths Debunked

Myth: “Cottage food isn't safe because it's not inspected.” Truth: Critics who talk about the risk of food-borne illness give hypothetical examples of what could go wrong because real-world cases are rare or nonexistent.

Myth: “You can't make any money with cottage food laws.” Truth: With a $35,000 annual limit, many cottage food operators run successful part-time or side businesses.

Myth: “The regulations are too complicated.” Truth: Mississippi makes it incredibly simple – no licenses, no fees, no mandatory training.

Ready to Get Started?

Mississippi's cottage food laws are designed to help people like you turn their passion for baking into a small business. Getting started is as simple as saying… I'm going to open and run my own cottage food operation from my home – starting right this minute.

Remember, every successful food business started with someone who had a dream and took the first step. Your delicious homemade goods could be exactly what your community is looking for!

Need More Information?

For specific questions about Mississippi's cottage food laws, contact:

• Mississippi State Department of Health: 601-576-8090 or 866-HLTHY4U
• Mississippi State University Extension Service: For food safety training and canning guidance
• Official cottage food resources: Check the Mississippi Department of Health website

You can also find helpful Extension publications:

• Publication 3327: “Cottage Food Laws in Mississippi: Key Guidelines and Policy Implications”
• Publication 3545: “Labeling Mississippi Cottage Food Products”
• Publication 3286: “Mississippi Cottage Food Operations: Regulations and Guidance”

The Bottom Line

Cottage food is local. When neighbors trade with neighbors, money stays in the local economy. Mississippi's cottage food laws give you the freedom to start a home-based food business with minimal barriers, allowing you to test your entrepreneurial dreams while serving your community with delicious, homemade treats.

Disclaimer: This blog post provides general guidance based on current Mississippi regulations. Laws can change, and individual situations may vary. Always check with the Mississippi Department of Health for the most current requirements and to confirm your specific situation complies with all applicable laws.