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Montana Food Labeling Requirements

Montana food labeling requirements for cottage food operations are written into state law (MCA 50-50-116): your name and full address, the product name, the ingredients by weight, the net quantity, allergens, and the statement "Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to retail food establishment regulations or inspections." in at least 11-point type on the main label. Register once with your county environmental health office for $40. Montana also has a second route, the Local Food Choice Act, with no label rule at all but stricter limits on where you sell.

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Montana food labeling requirements: map of the United States with Montana highlighted
Cottage food label

Required on every Montana cottage food label

These are the minimums in the statute. You also submit a copy of each label when you register.

Example Montana cottage food label for huckleberry jam with the home kitchen statement in 11-point type on the main panel, the maker's street address, ingredients, a Contains line and net weight in ounces and grams
  1. 1
    Name and full addressMCA 50-50-116(2)(b)(i)
    The name, address, city, state and zip code of the cottage food operation.
  2. 2
    Product nameMCA 50-50-116(2)(b)(ii)
    What the food is, like "Huckleberry Jam" or "Chokecherry Jelly".
  3. 3
    Ingredients by weightMCA 50-50-116(2)(b)(iii)
    In descending order of predominance by weight. DPHHS asks for sub-ingredients in parentheses, like "butter (milk, salt)".
  4. 4
    Net quantityMCA 50-50-116(2)(b)(iv)
    The net weight, count or volume. The DPHHS sample label shows both units: "Net Wt. 8oz (227g)".
  5. 5
    AllergensMCA 50-50-116(2)(b)(v)
    Allergen labeling as federal and state rules require. A Contains line under the ingredients is the easy way.
  6. 6
    Nutrition label, only with a claimMCA 50-50-116(2)(b)(vi)
    If you make a nutritional claim, add the label federal law requires for it.
  7. 7
    The home kitchen statementMCA 50-50-116(2)(b)(vii)
    "Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to retail food establishment regulations or inspections." At least 11-point type, in a color that contrasts with the background, placed where people see it on the principal label.
  8. Register with your county first$40 onceSend your county environmental health office the application with a recipe (ingredient weights, not volumes) and a label for every product, plus the one-time $40 fee. Move house or add recipes and labels, and you register and pay again.
Montana at a glance

Two ways to sell homemade food in Montana

Cottage food registration$40 one-timeShelf-stable foods from the approved list, sold face to face inside Montana. No routine inspections, only after a complaint or illness.
Sales capNoneMontana's cottage food law sets no dollar limit on sales.
Local Food Choice ActNo label ruleNo license, labeling or inspection, but you must tell each buyer the food is not licensed, permitted, certified, packaged, labeled or inspected.MCA 50-49-203
Never allowedStores, shippingNeither route lets you sell to restaurants, stores or other states. Cottage food can't be mailed or shipped.
Montana honeyRaw = no licenseRaw honey sold face to face, at home, farmers markets or craft fairs, needs no license. Heated, filtered, whipped or flavored honey made at home needs a cottage food registration to sell at home, farmers markets or craft fairs, or can be sold under the Local Food Choice Act. Every jar shows "honey" (or a name that names the flavor or sweetener added), your name and physical address, and the net weight.Honey Labeling Requirements (FDA) →
Farmers market only?DPHHS says the cottage food registration is not required if you only sell at farmers markets. Privately run markets can still set stricter rules for their vendors.
Selling to stores means a wholesale licensePut your product on a shop shelf and you need a wholesale food license through your local health authority. Then the federal label rules apply in full: net quantity in two units, full ingredient list, allergens, name and place of business, and usually a Nutrition Facts panel.FDA Food Labeling Requirements →
Sources

Where this comes from

Questions

Montana label questions

You can advertise and take orders online, by phone or on social media, but the sale itself must be face to face. Mail, UPS, FedEx, couriers and marketplaces like Amazon or eBay are not allowed. Cottage Food Law →

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