Every packaged cottage food product sold in DC must carry specific information — including an exact required disclaimer statement. Here's everything that must appear on your label, word for word.
DC's cottage food labeling requirements are established in DCMR Title 25-K § 104. Every packaged cottage food product you sell — whether at a farmers market, online, at retail, or from your home — must include all of the following elements. Sample labels must also be submitted with your registration application before you begin selling.
The common or usual name of the food product. This must accurately describe what the product is — "Chocolate Chip Cookies," "Wildflower Honey Jam," "Lavender Earl Grey Tea Blend." Brand names or creative product names may be used as long as the common product name is also present and clearly identifies the food.
This exact statement must appear on every label, in 10-point type or larger, in a color that provides a clear contrast against the label background. This is DC-specific and non-negotiable — it cannot be paraphrased or abbreviated. See the full disclaimer section below for formatting requirements.
Your unique ID number issued by DC Health when your registration is approved. This number must appear on every label. It serves as your traceability identifier — DC Health can use it to link a product back to your registered business if there is ever a complaint or recall situation. It replaces your home address on the label.
Every ingredient used in the product must be listed in descending order by weight — the heaviest ingredient first, the lightest last. Sub-ingredients (the ingredients within a compound ingredient) must also be declared. For example, "butter" becomes "butter (cream, salt)" and "semi-sweet chocolate" becomes "semi-sweet chocolate (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin, natural flavors)."
Allergen disclosures must follow federal labeling requirements under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) and the FASTER Act (2023, which added sesame as the 9th major allergen). The nine major allergens must be declared if present in any amount. Declaration may be done by identifying the allergen source in the ingredient list, or by using a "Contains" statement after the ingredient list.
The net weight or net volume of the product must appear on the label's principal display panel (the front face of the package). For solid and semi-solid foods, net weight is stated in both U.S. customary units (ounces, pounds) and metric units (grams, kilograms). For liquids, net volume is stated in both fluid ounces and milliliters/liters.
A Nutrition Facts panel is NOT required for DC cottage food products unless you make a nutritional claim on your label. A nutritional claim is any statement about the nutrient content of your food — such as "low fat," "sugar-free," "high fiber," "a good source of protein," or "no added sugar." If you make any such claim, you must back it up with a compliant Nutrition Facts panel that meets FDA requirements.
The easiest approach: avoid making nutritional claims. Let your ingredient list speak for itself. A cookie is a cookie — you don't need to claim it's "low sugar" to sell it, and making that claim without proper lab analysis creates more paperwork than it's worth.
This exact statement is required on every cottage food label sold in Washington, D.C. It cannot be paraphrased, abbreviated, or placed somewhere a consumer cannot easily read it. Copy it exactly — including capitalization and punctuation.
Font size: The disclaimer must be printed in 10-point type or larger. This is a minimum — you may use a larger font. The purpose is to ensure the statement is clearly readable by consumers. In practice, 10-point type on a standard product label is quite small; 11–12 point is more readable and still compliant.
Color contrast: The disclaimer must appear in a color that provides a clear contrast against the label background. Black text on white background is the most reliable choice. White text on a dark background also works. Avoid printing the disclaimer in a color that blends with your label design — regulators and consumers must be able to read it easily.
Placement: The regulation requires the statement to appear on the label. While DC does not specify exactly which panel it must appear on, best practice is to include it on the information panel (the back or side of the package, near the ingredient list) where it can be read alongside the other required disclosures. Ensure it is not obscured by packaging folds, price stickers, or overlapping labels.
This example shows all required label elements for a typical DC cottage food product. Your label design can be as creative as you like — what matters is that all required information is present and legible.
Federal law (FALCPA + FASTER Act of 2023) requires that any of the following nine allergens be declared on the label when present in any amount — even as a sub-ingredient of a compound ingredient. DC's labeling regulations incorporate these federal requirements.
Add a "Contains:" line immediately after the ingredient list. List only the allergen source names, not the full ingredient names. This is the clearest format for consumers.
Bold or otherwise emphasize the allergen source name within the ingredient list. Every instance of the allergen must be bolded throughout the list — not just the first occurrence.
If your kitchen processes products that contain different allergens — for example, you make peanut butter cookies and also make "peanut-free" shortbread — cross-contact risk is real. Advisory statements like "May contain peanuts" or "Made in a facility that also processes tree nuts" are voluntary under federal law but are strongly recommended when genuine cross-contact risk exists. These statements should not be used as a substitute for preventing cross-contact through proper cleaning and separation.
Net quantity must appear on the principal display panel (the front of the package, or the primary face a consumer sees at retail). Federal regulations under 21 CFR Part 101 apply to food labeling — DC's cottage food regulations incorporate these requirements.
| Product Type | Measurement | Required Units | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid foods (cookies, bread, candy) | Weight | U.S. oz/lb AND metric g/kg | NET WT 6 oz (170 g) |
| Semi-solid foods (jams, fudge) | Weight or Volume | U.S. oz/lb AND metric g/kg (or fl oz + mL) | NET WT 8 oz (227 g) |
| Liquid products (syrups, vinegars) | Volume | U.S. fl oz AND metric mL/L | NET 8 fl oz (237 mL) |
| Dry goods (tea, spices, mixes) | Weight | U.S. oz AND metric g | NET WT 2 oz (57 g) |
| Countable items (cookies by count) | Count + Weight | Count AND weight in both unit systems | 12 cookies · NET WT 6 oz (170 g) |
Net weight refers to the weight of the food only — not the container, packaging, or wrapper. Weigh your product after packaging if settling is expected (e.g., granola, trail mix) or before if packaging is significant. Use a calibrated kitchen scale for accuracy. If you sell products by weight at a market (scooping loose items), your scale must be registered with DLCP's Office of Weights and Measures — see the Permits page for details.
DC specifies 10-point minimum only for the required disclaimer statement. Federal regulations (21 CFR § 101.2) establish minimum type sizes for other elements based on the size of the principal display panel — typically 1/16" (about 4.5pt) minimum for ingredient text on small labels. In practice, aim for 7–8pt minimum for ingredient lists and 10–12pt for the disclaimer to ensure legibility.
DC does not regulate your label's overall design, colors, imagery, logo, or creative elements — as long as all required information is present and legible. You can create beautiful, branded labels that reflect your business identity. The required elements just need to be there. A creative, professional label is a marketing asset — invest in it.
You must submit a sample label for each product when you apply for your cottage food registration. DC Health reviews these for compliance. If a label is missing a required element, you'll need to revise and resubmit before that product can be approved. Get your labels right before submitting your application.
Each product on your approved list requires its own label with the product-specific ingredient list, net weight, and allergen information. You cannot use a generic label across multiple products. If you add a new product after registration, you must submit a new product and label to DC Health for approval before selling it.
The SellFood Label Creator has DC's required disclaimer pre-loaded. Add your product name, ingredients, net weight, and allergens — and download a print-ready label with all required elements already in place. Free with a SellFood account.
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