Product Status
Open, Restricted & Prohibited Foods
Louisiana uses the term "low-risk foods" — defined in R.S. 40:4.9(E) — to describe what home sellers can legally make and sell. No food may contain animal muscle protein or fish protein. Some products are clearly open, others carry specific conditions, and others are off-limits under the cottage food framework entirely.
Breads & Rolls
Loaf breads, sandwich bread, bagels, rolls, biscuits, scones — all allowed for direct sale.
Cookies & Brownies
All varieties. Direct-to-consumer only; cannot be sold wholesale to stores.
Cakes & Cupcakes
Including macarons, cake pops, sweet breads, wedding cakes. Direct sale only.
Pies & Tarts
Fruit pies, nut pies, chess pies, sweet potato pies. Direct-to-consumer only.
Hard Candy & Fudge
Caramels, lollipops, toffee; fudge made with pasteurized milk. Can sell wholesale.
Jams, Jellies & Preserves
Fruit jams, jellies, marmalades, fruit butters. Can sell wholesale to stores.
Honey & Honeycomb
Raw unfiltered honey is exempt from label disclaimer. Can sell wholesale.
Dried Mixes
Dry soup mixes, baking mixes, spice blends, cocoa mixes. Can sell wholesale.
Cane Syrup
Uniquely, may be prepared in an open-sided structure (not just a home kitchen) using traditional equipment.
Spices & Seasonings
Dried herb blends, Cajun/Creole seasoning mixes, rub blends. Can sell wholesale.
Hot Sauce & Vinegar Sauces
Properly acidified (pH ≤ 4.6) pepper sauces, hot sauces. Can sell wholesale.
Vinegar-Based Pickles
Cucumbers, okra, green tomatoes, peppers — acidified with vinegar to safe pH. Can sell wholesale.
BBQ Sauce & Syrups
Shelf-stable acidified sauces, simple syrups, flavored syrups. Can sell wholesale.
Muffins, Donuts & Scones
All unfilled varieties. Direct-to-consumer only as baked goods.
Cream & Custard-Filled Pastries
Allowed — but ONLY with pasteurized milk. Filling must be cooked to 145°F, chilled to 45°F. No touching filling by hand after cooking. Unique to Louisiana.
Cream Pies & Custard Pies
Allowed with the same strict pasteurized-milk and temperature rules as above. Direct-to-consumer only.
Fudge & Candy with Dairy
Pasteurized milk products only. Raw or unpasteurized dairy is prohibited.
Pickles & Acidified Foods
Must be properly acidified — pH at or below 4.6 — to qualify as low-risk. Non-acidified low-acid vegetables in sealed jars are prohibited.
Hot Sauce (Low pH)
Allowed if shelf-stable and properly acidified. If pH is uncertain, professional pH testing is recommended before selling.
Acidified Salsa
Allowed if acidified to pH ≤ 4.6. Refrigerated fresh salsa is not permitted under cottage food rules.
Lacto-Fermented Vegetables
Gray area — may qualify under "pickles and acidified foods" if pH is measurably safe. Verify with LDH before selling. Kombucha is not included.
Bakery Items with Hired Help
If you hire anyone to help prepare breads, cakes, cookies, or pies, the cottage food exemption is voided for those products. Other categories are unaffected.
Products Sold Wholesale
Only non-baked-good cottage foods (jams, honey, candy, sauces, spices, etc.) may be sold wholesale. Subject to the $30,000 annual limit.
Meat & Poultry Products
Boudin, andouille, tasso, chicken dishes, pork products — explicitly prohibited. Requires USDA-inspected facility.
Seafood Products
Crawfish pies, shrimp-filled items, seafood dips — any animal muscle protein or fish protein is off-limits.
Hot Prepared Meals
Gumbo, étouffée, red beans and rice for sale — prepared meals requiring temperature control cannot be sold as cottage food.
Fresh / Soft Cheese
Ricotta, cream cheese, fresh mozzarella, Creole cream cheese — dairy products as standalone items are prohibited.
Yogurt & Kefir
Temperature-controlled cultured dairy products are TCS foods and not permitted under cottage food rules.
Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts
Require refrigeration and dairy processing oversight — not low-risk foods.
Low-Acid Canned Goods
Home-canned green beans, corn, soups, stocks — pH above 4.6 in hermetically sealed containers is explicitly prohibited.
Kombucha
Not listed in allowed categories; may also have alcohol content issues. Not permitted under Louisiana cottage food rules.
CBD / Cannabidiol Products
Explicitly prohibited by R.S. 40:4.9(F) unless the FDA approves CBD as a food additive — which it has not done.
THC / Cannabis Edibles
Cannabis-infused food products are not permitted under the cottage food framework regardless of state cannabis policy.
Alcoholic Beverages
Beer, wine, spirits, and high-alcohol kombucha require separate brewery, winery, or distillery licensing — not cottage food.
Interstate Shipping
All sales must stay within Louisiana. No mail-order fulfillment or out-of-state delivery is permitted under this law.
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Louisiana's Rare Cream & Custard Exception
Most states prohibit cottage food sellers from making cream-filled or custard-filled pastries because they require refrigeration to remain safe. Louisiana uniquely allows them — but with specific food-safety requirements that must be followed exactly.
Use only pasteurized milk or pasteurized milk products — never raw dairy
Cook all custard/cream mixtures to at least 145°F for 30 minutes minimum
Immediately transfer to sanitized containers and chill to 45°F or below
Use impervious (non-cloth) tools; no cloth-filled pastry bags
Do not touch the cooked filling with bare hands after cooking
Products must be kept refrigerated until sold and eaten promptly
Where You Can Sell
Sales Channels by Product Type
Louisiana's two-tier system means your sales channel rights depend on which products you make. Here's a complete breakdown.
| Sales Channel |
Breads, Cakes, Cookies & Pies |
Jams, Honey, Candy, Sauces, Spices |
| Direct to consumer (in person) |
✓ Allowed |
✓ Allowed |
| Farmers markets & fairs |
✓ Allowed |
✓ Allowed |
| Home / roadside stand |
✓ Allowed |
✓ Allowed |
| Online advertising + in-person pickup |
✓ Allowed |
✓ Allowed |
| Grocery stores (wholesale/consignment) |
✗ Not allowed |
✓ Allowed |
| Restaurants & coffee shops (wholesale) |
✗ Not allowed |
✓ Allowed |
| Online order + mail delivery (shipping) |
✗ Not allowed |
✗ Not allowed |
| Interstate sales |
✗ Not allowed |
✗ Not allowed |
| Annual sales cap |
None (widely interpreted) |
$30,000 / year |
Why These Rules Exist
Understanding TCS Foods & Low-Risk Classification
Louisiana's cottage food framework is built around a fundamental food science concept: some foods are inherently stable at room temperature, while others — called Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods — create conditions that can allow dangerous bacteria to grow if not kept refrigerated or heated to specific temperatures.
The law limits home sellers to "low-risk" foods because these products won't cause foodborne illness when properly made and stored without refrigeration. High-sugar jams, properly acidified pickles, dry spice mixes, and shelf-stable honey are all low-risk because their chemistry (low water activity, high acidity, or low moisture) prevents bacterial growth. Meat, fresh cheese, custards, and cooked meals are TCS foods that require commercial kitchen infrastructure and active temperature management to sell safely.
✓ Low-Risk (Allowed)
- Baked goods (shelf-stable)
- High-sugar jams & jellies
- Properly acidified pickles (pH ≤ 4.6)
- Honey (natural antimicrobial)
- Dried mixes & spice blends
- Shelf-stable candies & fudge
- Cane syrup
✗ TCS / Not Permitted
- Meat, poultry, seafood
- Hot prepared meals
- Fresh / soft cheese
- Yogurt, kefir, ice cream
- Low-acid canned vegetables
- Refrigerated fresh salsa
- Unpasteurized juices
If you're unsure whether your specific product qualifies, the safest path is to contact the Louisiana Department of Health Retail Food Program at 225-342-9500 or review the statute directly at R.S. 40:4.9.
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