Every cottage food product sold in Alabama must carry a compliant label. The rules are specific — product name, ingredients, allergens, and a required disclaimer statement. Here's exactly what goes on your label and how to format it.
Alabama Code § 22-20-5.1(e) mandates that every cottage food product carry a label with the following information. All text must be in at least 10-point font.
The common or usual name of the food. Use the name a consumer would recognize — "Chocolate Chip Cookies," "Strawberry Jam," "Roasted Pecan Granola." The Alabama Department of Public Health recommends putting the product name in bold print.
The name of your cottage food production operation and your home address or P.O. Box. This is how consumers (and health authorities) can contact you if needed. A P.O. Box is acceptable if you prefer not to list your home address.
All ingredients listed in descending order of predominance by weight. This means the ingredient you use the most goes first, down to the least. Sub-ingredients must also be listed. For example: "Chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla)."
The statute requires a disclaimer that the food may contain allergens. The recommended format is a "Contains" statement listing any of the nine major FDA-recognized allergens present in your product. For tree nuts, fish, and crustacean shellfish, you must specify the type. See the allergen section below for the full list.
A statement that the food is not inspected by the state or local health department. This is required by the statute and must appear on every package. See the exact wording below.
The weight (for solid products) or volume (for liquids) of the product. Use standard U.S. measurements. Examples: "Net Wt. 1 lb. 3 oz." or "8 fl. oz." Alabama's ADPH guidance documents include this as a labeling requirement.
This exact statement (or substantially similar wording) must appear on every cottage food product you sell. It is required by Alabama Code § 22-20-5.1(e):
This statement must appear in at least 10-point font. Some producers also include "This product may contain allergens" as a combined disclaimer. Both statements are required — the inspection disclaimer by the statute, and the allergen disclaimer by ADPH guidance. Your county health department will review your label for compliance before approving your registration.
Unlike some states, Alabama requires you to submit sample labels to your county health department for review before you begin selling. Submit labels as part of your Cottage Food Review Form registration. If you change your product or recipe, submit updated labels for review.
Alabama's cottage food statute requires a disclaimer that the food may contain allergens. The Alabama Department of Public Health recommends listing all nine major allergens recognized by the FDA that are present in your product. For tree nuts, fish, and crustacean shellfish, include the specific type.
* Must specify the type — e.g., "Tree Nuts (Almonds, Pecans)" or "Fish (Cod)" or "Crustacean Shellfish (Shrimp)"
The recommended format is a "Contains" line placed after the ingredient list. Example:
Contains: Wheat, Milk, Eggs, Tree Nuts (Pecans)
If your product is produced in a kitchen that also handles other allergens, you may also include a "May contain" or "Produced in a facility that also processes" statement, though this is not legally required in Alabama. It's good practice for customer safety and trust.
Include the net weight (for solid foods) or net volume (for liquid products) on every label. Use standard U.S. measurements. Here are the formats ADPH guidance uses:
Solid products: "Net Wt. 1 lb. 3 oz." or "Net Wt. 12 oz. (340g)"
Liquid products: "8 fl. oz. (236 mL)" or "16 fl. oz."
Make sure your stated weight reflects the actual weight of the food, not the packaging. Use a calibrated kitchen scale for accuracy. Consistent weight also helps with pricing — customers trust sellers whose products match what's on the label.
Alabama Code § 22-20-5.1(e) specifies that all label text must be in at least 10-point font. This applies to every required element — product name, address, ingredients, allergen statement, and the cottage food disclaimer. For reference, 10-point type is approximately 3.5mm or about 1/8 inch in height.
Choose a clean, readable font for your labels. Sans-serif fonts (like Arial, Helvetica, or DM Sans) tend to be most legible at smaller sizes, especially on labels that need to fit a lot of information. Avoid decorative or script fonts for required text — save those for your brand name or logo.
Here's an example of a label that includes all required elements for an Alabama cottage food product:
↑ All text at or above 10-point font. Product name in bold. Ingredients in descending order. Allergens listed by name. Full address included. Both required disclaimers present.
Alabama's cottage food statute does not require a nutrition facts panel. Small businesses with annual food sales under $500,000 are also exempt from the federal nutrition labeling requirement under FDA rules. However, you must never make health claims on your labels — health claims fall under separate FDA regulations and are not covered by the cottage food statute.
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