Required Label Elements
What Must Appear on Every Label
Illinois law requires seven elements on every cottage food product label, plus a point-of-sale placard at every physical selling location. Below: a sample label layout paired with a detailed breakdown of each field.
Sample Illinois Cottage Food Label
1
Business Name & Location
Prairie Home Baking Co.
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County, Illinois
2
LHD Registration Number & County
Reg. #CF-2024-00142
Registered: Cook County, IL
Registered: Cook County, IL
3
Product Name
Sourdough Walnut Bread
4
Ingredients (descending by weight)
Ingredients: Unbleached wheat flour, water, walnuts, sourdough starter (wheat flour, water), sea salt.
5
Allergen Statement
Contains: Wheat, Tree Nuts (Walnuts).
6
Net Weight
Net Wt. 24 oz (680 g)
7
Required Disclaimer
This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens. If you have safety concerns, contact your local health department.
1
Business Name & Location
The name of your cottage food operation and the unit of local government (municipality or county) where your operation is located. This is your business name — not necessarily your personal name — and the city, village, or county of your home kitchen.
2
LHD Registration Number & Filing County
The identifying registration number provided by your local health department upon registration, plus the name of the municipality or county where the registration was filed. You cannot include this until after you receive your number — update all labels immediately upon registration approval.
3
Product Name
The common or usual name of the food product. Use descriptive, accurate naming — "Sourdough Walnut Bread," "Wild Blueberry Jam," "Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Bark." Avoid vague names that don't identify the food type. Flavored varieties should be named to distinguish them.
4
Ingredients List (Descending by Weight)
All ingredients listed from the heaviest to the lightest by weight in the finished product. This includes all sub-ingredients (e.g., "sourdough starter (wheat flour, water)"), artificial colors, artificial flavors, and preservatives. Water, salt, and spices follow the same rule. If an ingredient is less than 2% of the finished product by weight, it may be listed in any order after all ingredients that exceed 2%.
5
Allergen Statement (The Big 9)
Federal allergen labeling requirements apply. You must identify the presence of any of the Big 9 allergens: milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, and sesame. Allergens may be declared in the ingredients list (e.g., "wheat flour") or in a separate "Contains:" statement after the ingredients. See the Allergen section below for formatting examples.
6
Net Weight or Net Volume
The quantity of food in the package, stated as net weight (for solid foods) or net volume (for liquids). Must be expressed in both U.S. customary units and metric units. Place net quantity in the bottom third of the principal display panel. Do not include the weight of the packaging itself — net weight is the food only.
7
Required Home Kitchen Disclaimer
The exact mandated disclaimer statement must appear in prominent lettering on every product label. The text is fixed by law — it cannot be shortened, paraphrased, or moved to a non-prominent location. See the full disclaimer and display rules in the section below.
The Most Important Label Element
The Required Disclaimer — Exact Wording
Required by 410 ILCS 625/4 — Use This Exact Text
"This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens. If you have safety concerns, contact your local health department."
Label Placement
Prominent location on the product label. Cannot be hidden, buried in fine print, or placed on the bottom of the package where it won't be seen.
Wording
Must use this exact text. No paraphrasing, shortening, or modification of any kind. The law specifies the precise language.
Every Product
Required on every individual unit you sell — whether it's a loaf of bread, a jar of jam, or a bag of granola. No exceptions.
Point-of-Sale Placard: At every physical selling location — farmers market booth, home pickup table, event display — you must also post this same disclaimer text on a placard measuring a minimum of 8 inches × 10 inches in a prominent location. The online equivalent: if selling through a website or online platform, the disclaimer must be "prominently displayed" at the point of online sale (e.g., on the product listing page or checkout). This is separate from the product label requirement and applies simultaneously.
Allergen Labeling
The Big 9 Allergens
Illinois follows federal allergen labeling requirements (FALCPA and FASTER Act). You must disclose the presence of all nine major allergens — whether as a direct ingredient or as a component of an ingredient.
Milk
Includes lactose, casein, whey
Eggs
Includes egg white, yolk, albumin
Wheat
Includes all wheat varieties & spelt
Peanuts
Peanut butter, peanut oil, groundnuts
Soybeans
Soy sauce, tofu, soy lecithin, edamame
Fish
Specify species (e.g., salmon, cod)
Shellfish
Shrimp, crab, lobster — specify species
Tree Nuts
Almonds, walnuts, pecans — specify type
Sesame
Added by FASTER Act 2023 — tahini, sesame oil
Two Accepted Ways to Declare Allergens on Your Label
Method 1 — In the Ingredients List
Ingredients: Unbleached wheat flour, brown sugar, butter (milk), eggs, vanilla extract, baking powder, sea salt.
Bold or otherwise emphasize allergen names within the ingredient list. Each allergen is identified where it naturally appears in the list. This is the simpler method for products with few allergens.
Method 2 — Separate "Contains:" Statement
Ingredients: Unbleached flour, brown sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, baking powder, sea salt.
Contains: Wheat, Milk, Eggs.
Contains: Wheat, Milk, Eggs.
A bold "Contains:" statement placed immediately after the ingredients list. Cleaner and more visible for products with multiple allergens or longer ingredient lists. The preferred format for most cottage food sellers.
Quantity Declaration
Net Weight & Volume Rules
Illinois follows federal labeling standards for net quantity declarations. The rules are straightforward — here's what you need to know for solid foods, liquid products, and mixed-unit packaging.
Solid & Semi-Solid Foods
Use net weight expressed in both US customary (oz, lb) and metric (g, kg) units. Place in the bottom third of the principal display panel. Exclude packaging weight — label the food only.
Net Wt. 12 oz (340 g)
or: Net Wt. 1 lb 4 oz (567 g)
or: Net Wt. 1 lb 4 oz (567 g)
Liquid Products
Use net volume expressed in both US customary (fl oz) and metric (mL, L) units. Fill weight and volume may differ — measure the actual liquid content, not by jar size.
Net 8 fl oz (237 mL)
or: Net 16 fl oz (473 mL)
or: Net 16 fl oz (473 mL)
Counted Items & Multi-Packs
For products sold by count (individual cookies, cake pops, candy pieces), state both the count and the net weight. For multi-packs, state both units and total weight.
6 cookies, Net Wt. 9 oz (255 g)
or: 12 cake pops, Net Wt. 18 oz (510 g)
or: 12 cake pops, Net Wt. 18 oz (510 g)
📊 Do You Need a Nutrition Facts Panel?
Illinois Requirement
Illinois cottage food law does not require a Nutrition Facts panel on cottage food labels. You are not prohibited from including one, but it is not mandated by state rules.
FDA Small Business Exemption
Federal rules also exempt small food manufacturers from the Nutrition Facts requirement. Most cottage food sellers qualify as exempt given their small scale. Verify current FDA thresholds at fda.gov if you want to be certain.
Health Claims
You may not make unverified health claims on your label (e.g., "Boosts immunity," "Heart healthy"). Claims like "vegan," "gluten-free," or "organic" are allowed only if factually accurate and you can verify them through your ingredient sourcing.
Illinois Grown Label Bonus
If you use ingredients grown or raised on an Illinois farm and purchased directly from the farmer, you are encouraged to use: "Illinois Grown," "Illinois-Sourced," or "Illinois Farm Product" on your label. This is optional but adds local credibility.
Going Further
Optional Label Enhancements
These elements aren't legally required, but each one adds professionalism, transparency, or sales appeal to your labels.
Optional
Best By / Use By Date
Not required by Illinois law, but strongly recommended for customer trust and freshness transparency. Especially important for perishable or refrigerated products. Use "Best By" for quality, "Use By" for safety-critical products.
Optional
Storage Instructions
"Store in a cool, dry place," "Refrigerate after opening," or "Keep frozen" — not required, but helps customers extend shelf life and reduces spoilage complaints. Important for any product with limited shelf life.
Optional
Illinois Grown / Illinois-Sourced
Specifically encouraged by Illinois cottage food rules when you use ingredients purchased directly from Illinois farmers. "Illinois Grown," "Illinois-Sourced," and "Illinois Farm Product" are all permitted terms.
Optional
Contact Information
A website, email, or phone number helps customers reach you for reorders, custom orders, or questions. Not required, but builds brand loyalty and makes you findable after someone discovers your product at a market.
Optional
Cross-Contact Warning
"May contain traces of peanuts" or "Produced in a facility that also processes tree nuts." Not legally required under cottage food rules, but valuable for allergen-sensitive customers and reflects responsible practice.
Optional
Packaging Exemption Request
For products that are difficult to individually label (e.g., wedding cakes, large baked goods sold in bulk), you may request a packaging exemption from your local health department. If granted, label information goes on the receipt or accompanying document instead.
Before Every Sale
Label Compliance Checklist
Use this checklist before selling any new product or updating an existing label. Every item marked "Required" must be present on every unit sold.
✅
Illinois Cottage Food Label Checklist
Business name — name of your cottage food operation
Required
Location — unit of local government (municipality or county) where your operation is located
Required
LHD Registration Number — the number issued by your county health department upon registration
Required
County of registration — the municipality or county where registration was filed
Required
Product name — the common or usual name of the food product
Required
Ingredients list — all ingredients in descending order by weight, including sub-ingredients, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Required
Allergen declaration — all Big 9 allergens identified, either in the ingredient list or in a separate "Contains:" statement
Required
Net weight or net volume — in both US customary and metric units, placed in the bottom third of the principal display panel
Required
Home kitchen disclaimer — exact required text in prominent lettering on every product unit
Required
Point-of-sale placard — same disclaimer text on a minimum 8" × 10" sign displayed at every physical selling location
Required
Best By / Use By date — recommended for perishable and refrigerated products
Optional
Storage instructions — "Refrigerate after opening," "Store in cool dry place," etc.
Optional
Illinois Grown / Illinois-Sourced designation — if ingredients purchased directly from an Illinois farmer
Optional
Contact information — website, email, or phone number for reorders and customer questions
Optional
Label Creator
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