Last verified 2026-09-15. Regulator: Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health. This page is not legal advice.
What must a cottage food label show in Louisiana?
A Louisiana cottage food label must show these 2 items:
- A label that clearly indicates that the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility. The statute sets no exact wording.
- Raw honey that is not pasteurized, filtered, or processed to remove pollen is exempt from the label rule
What disclaimer must a Louisiana cottage food label have?
Louisiana does not set exact disclaimer wording in the sources we have. Check the sources below.
Does Louisiana require a Nutrition Facts panel on cottage food?
No. Louisiana 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 Louisiana cottage food law?
Low-risk foods only, none containing animal muscle protein or fish protein: baked goods including breads, cakes, cookies, and pies; candies; cane syrup; dried mixes; honey and honeycomb products; jams, jellies, and preserves; pickles and acidified foods; sauces and syrups; and spices. No food containing cannabidiol.
Where can you sell cottage food in Louisiana?
Sales to the public. Breads, cakes, cookies, and pies may not be sold to any retail business or to anyone for resale. The statute is silent on online sales and shipping.
Do you need a permit to sell cottage food in Louisiana?
No health permit or inspection. The preparer must hold a current sales tax certificate from the parish sales and use tax collector before selling. A preparer of breads, cakes, cookies, or pies who employs anyone to help loses the exemption.
Is there a sales limit for cottage food in Louisiana?
The exemption ends at $30,000 in gross annual sales. A preparer at or above that figure must meet the full sanitary code.
What else should you know about the Louisiana rules?
Louisiana has no cottage food license. The statute exempts home preparers of low-risk foods from the state sanitary code. It sets kitchen rules for bakers: screened openings, no pets in the baking area, refrigeration at 45 degrees Fahrenheit or below, pasteurized milk in any custard or cream filling, and cooked fillings. The only label rule is the not-licensed statement, with no fixed wording. A bill in the 2025 session proposed to repeal and replace this section; check the statute page for changes after 2022.
How accurate is this page?
The allowed foods list, the $30,000 limit, the resale ban, the label rule, the honey exemption, and the sales tax rule were read from the text of R.S. 40:4.9 on legis.la.gov on 2026-09-15. That text shows amendments through Act 357 of 2022. The Louisiana Department of Health site returned 403 to this server, so no agency page was read. Any 2024 or 2025 change is not confirmed.