Last verified 2026-09-15. Regulator: Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), through the county health departments. This page is not legal advice.
What must a cottage food label show in Alabama?
A Alabama cottage food label must show these 6 items:
- The common name of the food
- The name and address of the cottage food production operation
- A statement that the food is not inspected by the health department. ADPH does not publish fixed wording.
- A list of ingredients in descending order of predominance
- A disclaimer that the food may contain allergens
- All items in at least 10-point font
What disclaimer must a Alabama cottage food label have?
Alabama does not set exact disclaimer wording in the sources we have. Check the sources below.
Does Alabama require a Nutrition Facts panel on cottage food?
No. Alabama does not require a Nutrition Facts panel on cottage food. Federal rules also exempt most small producers, unless the label makes a nutrient or health claim. If you want to add one, the Nutrition Label Maker prints it in the FDA layout for free.
What foods can you sell under the Alabama cottage food law?
Non-potentially hazardous foods, including baked goods; jams, jellies, and fruit preserves; candy; dried and dehydrated herbs, herb mixes, vegetables, or fruits; roasted coffee; dried baking mixes; and fermented or preserved vegetables or fruits that do not produce alcohol and have a pH allowed by the Health Department. Fermented and acidified foods such as pickles and salsa need a pH verification from a processing authority or Alabama Extension before sale. Meat, poultry, and fish are excluded.
Where can you sell cottage food in Alabama?
Direct to consumers only, in person, by phone, or online, as long as the buyer is in Alabama. Delivery in person, through an agent of the producer, or by mail. No sales to restaurants, permitted food establishments, retail stores, or on consignment. Sales from a tent, booth, cart, or storefront are allowed if the venue is not a health-department-permitted establishment.
Do you need a permit to sell cottage food in Alabama?
No home inspection. The producer takes a food safety course (Alabama Extension or any ANSI-accredited program), then takes the certificate, a sample label, and the cottage food review form to the county health department for review. Fees vary by county. The certificate must be kept current.
Is there a sales limit for cottage food in Alabama?
None. ADPH states the annual income limit was removed.
What else should you know about the Alabama rules?
Every item sold must carry the label. The county health department reviews your course certificate and a sample label and can give you a written confirmation for a local business license. Farmers markets run by the state fall under the Farmers Market Authority at the Department of Agriculture and Industries, so ask them before selling there. Advertising on social media is allowed.
How accurate is this page?
The label items, the allowed foods, the removal of the income limit, the sales channels, the delivery rules, and the course and review process were read from the ADPH cottage food FAQ page on 2026-09-15. The statute and the administrative code text were not read: the Legislature’s code sites need JavaScript. The exact statement wording, if the rule sets one, is not confirmed.