Labeling is not optional in California — it is actively enforced. County Environmental Health inspectors check labels at farmers markets, and some counties require you to submit label samples as part of your CFO application before they'll issue your registration. Getting your labels right from day one protects your registration and builds buyer trust. Every label must comply with both California Health and Safety Code requirements and applicable federal FDA labeling rules.
Required Label Elements
Every Field Your Label Must Include
1
Product Name Mandatory
The common or descriptive name of the food product, placed prominently on the primary display panel. Must be the name a buyer would recognize — for example, "Chocolate Chip Cookies" not just "Cookies." Must be factual and comply with any applicable federal standards of identity.
2
"Made in a Home Kitchen" Statement Mandatory
The exact phrase "Made in a Home Kitchen" must appear on the principal display panel in 12-point type minimum. This is a statutory requirement under California Health and Safety Code §114365.2. If the product was repackaged (not made from scratch), use "Repackaged in a Home Kitchen" instead. No substitutions or paraphrasing.
3
Business Name & Address Mandatory
Your business name plus city and ZIP code are required. If your home address is not listed in a current telephone directory, the full street address must also be included. A P.O. Box is generally not acceptable as a substitute for a physical address. Optional but recommended: a phone number or email for customer contact.
4
CFO Registration or Permit Number Mandatory
Your county-issued Class A registration number or Class B permit number must appear on every label. This is how inspectors at farmers markets verify your legal status. Format varies by county — it will be on your registration or permit document.
5
County of Production Mandatory
The name of the California county where the product was made and registered. For example: "County of Sacramento" or "Made in Marin County." This must match the county where your CFO registration or permit was issued.
6
Ingredients List Mandatory
All ingredients listed in descending order by weight — most predominant ingredient first. If any ingredient is itself a compound (e.g., butter, chocolate chips, baking powder), its sub-ingredients must also be listed in parentheses. For example: "butter (pasteurized cream, salt)" and "chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract)." No shortcuts or brand names without ingredient lists.
7
Allergen Declaration Mandatory
All 9 FDA major food allergens must be declared when present. Per FALCPA and FASTER Act rules, you must either list the allergen source in the ingredient name (e.g., "wheat flour") or add a "Contains:" statement after the ingredients list (e.g., "Contains: Wheat, Milk, Eggs, Soy"). See the allergen section below for the full list of the 9 major allergens.
8
Net Weight or Net Volume Mandatory
The quantity of product in the package, expressed in both US customary units and metric units. Solid or semi-solid foods use weight (e.g., "Net Wt. 3 oz (85 g)"). Liquid products use fluid volume (e.g., "Net 8 fl oz (237 mL)"). Must appear on the principal display panel, typically in the lower 30% of the panel.
9
Nutrition Facts Panel Conditional
A Nutrition Facts panel is only required if your label makes a nutrient content claim (e.g., "low sodium," "high fiber," "good source of protein," "reduced sugar") or a health claim. If your label makes no such claims, Nutrition Facts are optional. Most cottage food sellers skip it unless they have a marketing reason to include it. If you do include it, it must follow FDA's Nutrition Facts format exactly.
10
Organic Claim (if applicable) Conditional
If you use the word "organic" on your label, your product and ingredients must meet USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards. Cottage food operators using certified organic ingredients can reference USDA organic certification on the label — but this requires your ingredient suppliers to have valid USDA organic certificates. Do not use "organic" casually — it is a regulated term.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Made in a Home Kitchen
Net Wt.
8 oz (226 g)
Baker
Sarah's Kitchen
Sacramento, CA 95814
CFO Reg #
CFO-SAC-2024-0042
County
County of Sacramento
Ingredients
Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), butter (pasteurized cream, salt), semi-sweet chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, baking soda, sea salt
Contains: Wheat, Milk, Eggs, Soy
Sample label for illustration. Your permit number, county, and address will differ.
Exact Required Wording — California Law
The "Made in a Home Kitchen" Statement
"Made in a Home Kitchen"
This exact phrase — or "Repackaged in a Home Kitchen" for products you did not make from scratch — must appear on the principal display panel (the front of the label that faces the buyer) in 12-point type minimum. This is not a suggestion. It is a statutory requirement under California Health and Safety Code §114365.2(c).
Where it goes: The principal display panel — the surface most likely to be seen by the consumer when displayed for purchase. For a jar, this is the main front label. For a bag, it's the front face. For a box, it's the largest panel.
Font size: 12-point type is the legal minimum. At typical label sizes, 12pt is clearly readable. Scaling down below this threshold — even slightly — is a labeling violation. When in doubt, use larger type.
Online listings: If you advertise or sell your products online (your website, social media, SellFood marketplace), your online listing must also include your CFO permit or registration number and the "Made in a Home Kitchen" disclosure. This applies to all digital advertising and online sales channels.
Allergen Labeling
The 9 Major FDA Allergens
The Food Allergy Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) and the FASTER Act (2023) require clear disclosure of all 9 major food allergens. California cottage food sellers must comply with these federal rules on every label. If your product contains or is manufactured in a facility that also processes any of the following, you must declare it.
🌾 Wheat
🥛 Milk
🥚 Eggs
🐟 Fish
🦐 Shellfish
🌰 Tree Nuts
🥜 Peanuts
🫘 Soybeans
🌱 Sesame
Sesame was added as the 9th major allergen under the FASTER Act, with full enforcement beginning January 1, 2023. If your product contains sesame seeds, tahini, sesame oil, or any sesame-derived ingredient, it must be declared.
How to Declare Allergens — Two Accepted Formats
Format 1 — Inline Declaration (in the ingredient list itself)
Ingredients: enriched flour (
wheat flour, niacin, iron), butter (pasteurized
cream [
milk], salt),
eggs, chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter,
soy lecithin, vanilla), baking soda, salt
Format 2 — "Contains" Statement (after the ingredient list)
Ingredients: enriched flour, butter, eggs, chocolate chips, baking soda, salt
Contains: Wheat, Milk, Eggs, Soy
Cross-contact warning: If you produce multiple products in your home kitchen and some contain allergens that others don't, buyers with severe allergies may be at risk from cross-contact. California law does not require you to list "may contain" or cross-contact warnings, but including a voluntary advisory — such as "Produced in a home kitchen that also uses tree nuts and wheat" — is strongly recommended for buyer safety and your protection.
Measurement Requirements
Net Weight & Volume — Format Examples
California and federal rules both require net quantity in both US customary and metric units. The net quantity must appear in the lower 30% of the principal display panel and in a type size proportionate to the label area. Here are common format examples by product type.
Cookies & Baked Goods
Net Wt. 6 oz (170 g)
Sold by weight. US ounces first, grams in parentheses.
Jams & Preserves
Net Wt. 8 oz (227 g)
Sold by weight even in jars. "Net Wt." not "Net Vol." for semi-solid spreads.
Granola & Dry Mixes
Net Wt. 12 oz (340 g)
Sold by weight. Exclude package or container weight — net content only.
Honey
Net Wt. 12 oz (340 g)
Honey is sold by weight, not fluid volume, even though it's liquid.
Roasted Coffee
Net Wt. 12 oz (340 g)
Coffee sold by weight. "12 oz bag" is common but must also include grams.
Candy & Confections
Net Wt. 4 oz (113 g)
Sold by weight. Individual pieces may also show count: "12 pieces · Net Wt. 4 oz (113 g)."
Online Sales & Advertising
What Your Online Listings Must Include
- · Your CFO registration or permit number must appear on every online product listing
- · The disclosure "Made in a Home Kitchen" must be visible to buyers on your online store or listing page
- · Any advertisement — social media, email, website — must include the county of production and your CFO permit/registration number
- · Product photos may show the physical label — this can satisfy disclosure requirements if the label is clearly legible
- · SellFood product listings include a field for your CFO registration number — fill it in before your first sale goes live
Packaging materials must be food-grade: Every material that contacts your product — bags, jars, boxes, label paper, label adhesive, and inks — must be food-safe and appropriate for food contact. This includes the glue on your labels. "Food-grade" labels are widely available from suppliers like Avery, OnlineLabels, and Sticker Mule, and are specified as food-safe in their product descriptions.
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