Arkansas Cottage Food Label Requirements
Arkansas cottage food label requirements come from the Food Freedom Act, and they ask for five things: the date you made the food, your name, address and phone number (or a state ID number), the name of the food, a full ingredient list, and a two-sentence statement about home production and allergens. Get those right and you can sell in person, online and even through local stores.
Required on every Arkansas homemade food label
The Food Freedom Act exempts you from state permits and inspections, but not from these five disclosures.
- 1The date it was madeArk. Code § 20-57-505The date the food was manufactured, produced or processed. Put it on every package, not just on your records.
- 2Your name, address and phone numberArk. Code § 20-57-505All three. Rather keep your home address private? Ask the Arkansas Department of Agriculture for an identification number and print that instead.
- 3The common name of the foodArk. Code § 20-57-505What a buyer would call it, like "Pecan brittle" or "Sourdough loaf".
- 4All ingredients, heaviest firstArk. Code § 20-57-505The full list in descending order of predominance. Arkansas asks for every ingredient, not just the allergens.
- 5The required statementArk. Code § 20-57-505Word for word: "This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens."
- Pickles need a batch numberExtra linePickled cucumbers and other acidified vegetables must reach a pH of 4.6 or less, and each jar needs a unique batch number on the label. Keep a record of the batch number, recipe, recipe source or measured pH, and the date you made it.
Sales limits, permits and where you can sell
Where this comes from
- Arkansas Department of Health: Homemade Food Production GuideOfficial state guide, with the label rules and allowed foods
- Arkansas Code § 20-57-505: DisclosuresThe label disclosures in the law itself
- Arkansas Code § 20-57-504: Food freedomWho can sell, where, and what is excluded
- University of Arkansas Extension: Arkansas Food Freedom ActState extension overview, incl. the ID number option
Arkansas label questions
Yes. The Food Freedom Act lets a third-party vendor, like a retail shop or grocery store, sell your food to the end customer. A store that also sells inspected food has to keep your products separate. Restaurants can't buy it to use in their kitchen.
Not if you get an identification number from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. That number replaces your name, address and phone number on the label.
It replaced it. The Food Freedom Act covers far more foods: almost anything shelf-stable made in your home, as long as it does not need refrigeration for safety. The label rules changed too, so check any older label against the five disclosures above. Arkansas Cottage Food Law →
Anything that needs time or temperature control for safety, like cheesecake or cream pies, plus anything made with meat, poultry or seafood, and dairy products like milk, cheese or butter. Low-acid canned foods also need a permit. The ADH guide has a full list by food type.
Label the bulk container, and hand each customer a separate written sheet with all five disclosures at the time of sale.
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