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Rhode Island Cottage Food Label Requirements

Rhode Island cottage food label requirements apply to registered cottage food businesses: your name, address and telephone number, the ingredients by weight or volume, allergen information, and in at least 10-point type "Made by a Cottage Food Business Registrant that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection". You register with RIDOH for $65 a year and sell up to $50,000 a year. Farms have a second route, farm home food manufacture, with a shorter label.

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Rhode Island cottage food label requirements: map of the United States with Rhode Island highlighted
Cottage food label

Required on every Rhode Island cottage food label

The label is affixed to the product and has four parts, set by R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.2.

Example Rhode Island cottage food label for coffee cake muffins with business name, address and phone, ingredients, a Contains line and the cottage food registrant statement in 10-point type
  1. 1
    Name, address and telephone numberR.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.2(2)(vi)
    Your business name, its address and a phone number customers can call.
  2. 2
    IngredientsR.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.2(2)(vi)
    In descending order of predominance by weight or volume, so the main ingredient comes first.
  3. 3
    Allergen informationR.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.2(2)(vi)
    As federal and state labeling rules specify. If the product has milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans or another major allergen, say so, for example "Contains: wheat, milk, eggs".
  4. 4
    The registrant statementR.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.2(2)(vi)(D)
    At least 10-point type, clear and conspicuous, in contrast with the label background: "Made by a Cottage Food Business Registrant that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection"
  5. Baking in a licensed kitchen?ExceptionRegistrants may also bake in a commercial kitchen licensed by RIDOH that they rent. Products made there skip the registrant statement. Keep a record of the dates you used that kitchen.
Rhode Island at a glance

Registration, sales cap, training and where you sell

Registration$65 a yearWith the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), plus a notarized affidavit that your kitchen meets the rules.
Sales cap$50,000 a yearTotal gross sales per calendar year. Go over it and you get a food processor license or stop.R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.2(6)Food Processor License →
TrainingRequiredA food safety manager course, an ANSI approved food handler course or another course RIDOH approves, before your first registration.
Where you sellDirect, in statePickup or in-person delivery to consumers in Rhode Island. Farmers markets and festivals need a retail food peddler license as well.
Farm home food manufactureFarms onlyFarms can register a farm home kitchen with RIDOH instead ($65 a year; the form asks for at least $2,500 in yearly farm sales). Products are sold at farmers markets, farm stands and farmer-run markets and stores. It covers jams, jellies and vinegars from local produce, double crust pies with local fruit, yeast breads, maple syrup, candy, fudge and dried herbs. The label lists the ingredients plus the farm name, address and telephone number. No statement is required.R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.1Homemade Jam Label →
Baked goods onlyCottage food registrants may make baked goods that need no refrigeration: double crust pies, single crust fruit pies, yeast breads, biscuits, brownies, cookies, muffins and shelf-stable cakes. Frosting that is refrigerated for quality, not safety, is allowed.Baked Goods Labeling Requirements →
No stores, restaurants or wholesaleConsignment and wholesale are off limits, and so are sales to grocery stores, restaurants, long-term care facilities, group homes, daycares and schools. Selling there takes a licensed food business, such as a RIDOH food processor license.FDA Food Labeling Requirements →
Sources

Where this comes from

Questions

Rhode Island label questions

You can advertise and take orders online, by mail or by phone. The sale is only allowed if you or your designee deliver the food in person to the customer inside Rhode Island. No shipping. Cottage Food Law →

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