Iowa Code r. 481-30.13 - Cottage food

(1) Cottage food is exempt from all licensing, permitting, inspection, packaging, and labeling laws of the state if the food complies with all of the following:

a. The food does not require time/temperature control for safety. When it is not obvious whether a food requires time/temperature control for safety, the food producer must provide documentation that a food does not require time/temperature control for safety to the regulatory authority upon request.

b. The food is not a milk or milk product regulated under Iowa Code chapters 192 and 194.

c. The food is not a meat, meat food product, poultry, or poultry food product regulated under Iowa Code chapter 189A.

d. The food is not unpasteurized fruit or vegetable juice.

e. The food is produced in a private residence.

f. The food is sold and delivered by the producer directly to the consumer.

g. The cottage food is labeled or affixed with the following information:

(1) Information to identify the name and address, phone number, or electronic mail address of the person preparing the food.

(2) The common name of the food.

(3) The ingredients of the cottage food in descending order of predominance.

(4) The following statement: "This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state licensing and inspection."

(5) If the cottage food contains one or more major food allergens, an additional allergen statement identifying each major allergen contained in the food by the common name of the allergen.

(6) If the food is home-processed and contains home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits permitted under this rule, the date that the food was processed and canned.

h. Home-processed and home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits sold under this rule must comply with the following:

(1) Each batch must be measured by a pH meter or a water activity meter and shall have a finished equilibrium pH value of 4.60 or lower or a water activity value of 0.85 or less.

(2) Each container that is sold or offered for sale must contain the date the food was processed and canned.

i. The cottage food producer must provide batch testing records to the regulatory authority upon request, including at the point of sale.

j. Cottage food shall not be offered for sale in a food establishment except in a temporary food establishment, provided that the temporary food establishment is operated by the cottage food producer and the cottage food is offered for sale in a packaged form and labeled in accordance with paragraph 30.13(1)"g."

(2) Compliance with the cottage food exemption provided in this rule does not represent compliance with federal law.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 137F as amended by 2022 Iowa Acts, House File 2431.

Notes

Iowa Code r. 481-30.13

ARC 6568C, IAB 10/5/22, effective 11/9/22

Amended by IAB October 5, 2022/Volume XLV, Number 7, effective 11/9/2022