The Full Picture
What a Compliant Michigan Cottage Food Label Looks Like
Michigan Cherry Jam
Small-batch · Traverse City tart cherries
Net Wt.
8 oz (227 g)
Made by
Great Lakes Cottage Kitchen
482 Maple St, Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 555-0147
482 Maple St, Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 555-0147
Ingredients: Tart cherries, cane sugar, lemon juice, fruit pectin
Contains: No major allergens
Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan department of agriculture and rural development.
This label satisfies all seven required elements under MCL 289.4102(3). The disclaimer is at the bottom — the law only requires it to be present and legible (11-point minimum, contrasting color). You are not required to put it at the top.
The Law — MCL 289.4102(3)
All 7 Required Label Elements
Michigan law requires every cottage food product to be prepackaged and labeled before sale. Every unit offered for sale must carry every required element — not just the first unit, not just at certain venues. All seven, every time.
1
Business Name & Address
The name and physical address of your cottage food operation — your home kitchen address. A P.O. Box is not sufficient; you must use the physical street address. If you have registered with the MSU Product Center, you may instead display your business name, telephone number, and MSU registration number.
Example: "Great Lakes Cottage Kitchen, 482 Maple St, Traverse City, MI 49684"
OR (with MSU registration): "Great Lakes Cottage Kitchen · (231) 555-0147 · Reg. #MI-CF-00247"
Required on every label
OR (with MSU registration): "Great Lakes Cottage Kitchen · (231) 555-0147 · Reg. #MI-CF-00247"
2
Product Name
The common or usual name of the food product. This should be the standard, recognizable name of what you're selling — not just a brand name or flavor descriptor alone. Both all-capitals and mixed-case are acceptable.
Example: "Michigan Cherry Jam," "Sourdough Bread," "Dark Chocolate Almond Bark," "Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies"
Required on every label
3
Ingredient List
All ingredients must be listed in descending order of predominance by weight — the ingredient that weighs the most comes first, down to the ingredient that weighs the least. Use the common name of each ingredient. Sub-ingredients of compound ingredients must also be listed (e.g., if you use chocolate chips, list the components of the chips).
✓ "Ingredients: Wheat flour, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, baking powder, salt"
✗ "Ingredients: The good stuff" (not acceptable)
Required on every label
✗ "Ingredients: The good stuff" (not acceptable)
4
Net Weight or Net Volume
The quantity of food in the package, stated in standard U.S. units and metric units. For solid foods, use weight (oz and g). For liquids or semi-liquids, use volume (fl oz and mL). Place the net weight declaration in the lower 30% of the principal display panel.
✓ "Net Wt 12 oz (340 g)" | "Net Wt 1 lb (454 g)" | "8 fl oz (237 mL)"
✗ "About 24 cookies" (not a weight — add weight too)
Required on every label
✗ "About 24 cookies" (not a weight — add weight too)
5
Allergen Information
Federal law requires declaration of the nine major food allergens whenever they are present as an ingredient or as a sub-ingredient. Michigan cottage food sellers must follow federal allergen labeling requirements. The nine major allergens are: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame (sesame was added as the 9th major allergen in 2023).
✓ "Contains: Wheat, milk, eggs"
✓ "Contains: Tree nuts (almonds, pecans)"
✓ "Allergen statement: Made in a home kitchen that also processes peanut products."
Required whenever any allergen is present
✓ "Contains: Tree nuts (almonds, pecans)"
✓ "Allergen statement: Made in a home kitchen that also processes peanut products."
6
Nutrition Labeling (Conditional)
A standard Nutrition Facts panel is only required if you make any nutrition or health claim on your label or packaging. Claims like "low sugar," "high fiber," "keto-friendly," "gluten-free," "heart-healthy," or "good source of protein" trigger the requirement. If you make no such claims, no Nutrition Facts panel is required.
If your label says "Rich in antioxidants" → Nutrition Facts panel required.
If your label says nothing about nutrition → panel not required.
Only if nutrition/health claims are made
If your label says nothing about nutrition → panel not required.
7
The Mandatory Disclaimer Statement
This is the most distinctive Michigan cottage food labeling requirement. The exact statutory language must appear on every label, with specific rules for size and contrast.
Exact required text (see full section below)
Required on every label — exact wording
The Most Important Element
The Mandatory Disclaimer — Exact Rules
🏷️ Required Disclaimer — Exact Statutory Wording
"Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan department of agriculture and rural development."
Font size: At least the equivalent of 11-point font. This is approximately 1/8 inch tall — roughly the size of the print in a typical newspaper.
Color contrast: Must appear in a color that provides clear contrast to the background. Dark text on light background (or vice versa). Not pale gray on white.
Exact wording: The statute specifies this exact text. Paraphrasing or abbreviating is not compliant. Copy it word for word.
Placement: The law does not specify where on the label it must appear. You can place it at the bottom of a back label — it does not have to be the first thing a customer sees.
Capitalization: Both all-capitals ("MADE IN A HOME KITCHEN...") and standard mixed-case are acceptable.
Printing method: Must be physically on the label — a handwritten sticker or stamp is technically acceptable, but printed labels are strongly recommended for legibility and professionalism.
Practical tip: Put the disclaimer on your back label at the bottom in 11-point font — where it satisfies the legal requirement without dominating the visual presentation of your product. Many successful Michigan cottage food brands keep their front label clean and brand-forward, reserving the disclaimer and ingredients list for the back.
Privacy Options
Home Address vs. MSU Registration Number
Since PA 51 of 2025 took effect on March 24, 2026, Michigan cottage food sellers have two options for satisfying the name/address requirement on their labels.
✓ Option A — Home Address (Default)
Great Lakes Cottage Kitchen
482 Maple St
Traverse City, MI 49684
482 Maple St
Traverse City, MI 49684
- No cost, no registration required
- Can start selling immediately
- Straightforward compliance
- Phone number optional under this option
✓ Option B — MSU Registration (Privacy)
Great Lakes Cottage Kitchen
(231) 555-0147
Reg. #MI-CF-00247
(231) 555-0147
Reg. #MI-CF-00247
- Home address kept private
- One-time fee up to $50
- Records exempt from FOIA requests
- Name + phone + registration number required together
A P.O. Box alone is never sufficient under either option. If using Option A, you must include your physical street address. If using Option B, you must have completed MSU Product Center registration and received your unique registration number before printing labels that omit your home address.
Allergen Labeling
The 9 Major Allergens
Federal law (FALCPA, updated by FASTER Act 2023) requires declaration of the nine major food allergens. Michigan cottage food sellers are not exempt from this federal requirement. Allergen mislabeling is a serious public health issue — a customer with a peanut allergy relying on your label could face a life-threatening reaction if you get this wrong.
WheatIncludes barley, rye
(gluten grains)
(gluten grains)
MilkAll dairy products
including butter, cream
including butter, cream
EggsWhole eggs, yolks,
whites, egg products
whites, egg products
PeanutsPeanut butter,
peanut oil, paste
peanut oil, paste
Tree NutsAlmonds, cashews,
pecans, walnuts, etc.
pecans, walnuts, etc.
FishSalmon, tuna, cod
(not shellfish)
(not shellfish)
ShellfishShrimp, crab,
lobster, clams
lobster, clams
SoybeansSoy lecithin,
tofu, edamame
tofu, edamame
SesameSesame seeds,
tahini, sesame oil
tahini, sesame oil
How to declare allergens: You may use either the parenthetical method within the ingredient list (e.g., "flour (wheat)") or a separate "Contains:" statement after the ingredient list. If your kitchen also handles allergens that aren't in the product itself, consider adding a "May contain:" or "Made in a facility that also processes..." advisory statement, though this is not legally required.
Tree nut specificity: When your product contains tree nuts, you must name the specific tree nut (or nuts). "Contains: Tree nuts" alone is insufficient — you must specify "Contains: Tree nuts (almonds, pecans)" or similar. Different people have allergies to different tree nuts.
Ingredient List Best Practices
Writing a Compliant Ingredient List
| Rule | Correct ✓ | Incorrect ✗ |
|---|---|---|
| Descending weight order | Flour, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, salt | Salt, vanilla, eggs, sugar, butter, flour |
| Common ingredient names | Sugar, milk, butter | Sucrose, bovine lactation product, churned cream |
| Sub-ingredients declared | Chocolate chips (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, soy lecithin) | Chocolate chips |
| Spices by name or "spices" | Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves — OR — Spices | "Natural flavors" for spices you add whole |
| Water listed if significant | Water listed by weight if it's a major ingredient | Omitting water used in baking as a primary ingredient |
| Compound ingredients | Cream cheese (pasteurized milk, cream, cheese cultures, salt) | Cream cheese |
| No vague descriptions | Pure vanilla extract, cane sugar | "Love," "magic," "secret spices" |
Label Design
Labels That Comply and Sell
Meeting the legal requirements and creating a label that drives sales are not mutually exclusive. Here's how to do both.
Front / Back Strategy
Use the front label for brand, product name, and visual appeal. Put the ingredient list, allergens, net weight, address, and disclaimer on the back. Both must be firmly attached to the package.
Print Quality Matters
Inkjet-printed home labels often smear or fade when wet. Use a laser printer or order waterproof labels from a print shop. Kraft or white label paper on glass jars reads as artisan and premium.
Test Your Font Sizes
Print a test label and physically measure the disclaimer text. 11-point font is about 1/8 inch tall — smaller than you might expect on a 3" × 2" label. When in doubt, go larger.
Label-to-Package Fit
Round labels on round jars leave seam gaps where required text can be hidden from view. Use a full-wrap label or two labels (front and back) to ensure everything is visible without rotating the jar.
Best By Dates
Not legally required but strongly recommended. Customers trust products with clear date guidance. Use a "Best By" stamp or printed date field. Be conservative — 2–3 weeks for most baked goods.
QR Codes
After meeting all required elements, use remaining label space for a QR code linking to your SellFood page, social media, or recipe suggestions. This extends your label into a marketing channel.
Avoid These Errors
Most Common Michigan Labeling Mistakes
Disclaimer font too small
Printing the required disclaimer in 8- or 9-point type to save space. Markets often catch this and turn vendors away.
✓ Fix: Print a test label and measure with a ruler. 11pt ≈ 1/8 inch. When in doubt, use 12pt.
P.O. Box instead of physical address
Using a P.O. Box or just a city name when the law requires a full physical street address.
✓ Fix: Include your full street address, city, state, and ZIP — or register with MSU Product Center to use your registration number instead.
Missing allergen declaration
Listing "chocolate chips" in ingredients without declaring that they contain soy lecithin (soy), or listing "butter" without declaring milk.
✓ Fix: Review every ingredient for hidden allergens. Use the "Contains:" statement format for clarity.
Ingredients not in weight order
Listing ingredients alphabetically, by quantity count, or in recipe order rather than by descending weight.
✓ Fix: Think about the recipe by weight. If you use 2 cups flour and 1 cup sugar, flour comes first regardless of alphabetical order.
Making health or nutrition claims without a Nutrition Facts panel
Writing "low-sugar," "gluten-free," "keto-friendly," or "high-protein" on a label without a supporting Nutrition Facts panel.
✓ Fix: Either add a compliant Nutrition Facts panel (requires lab testing or validated nutrition software) or remove all nutrition and health claims from your label.
Paraphrasing the required disclaimer
Using variations like "Homemade product — not MDARD inspected" or "Made at home" instead of the exact statutory language.
✓ Fix: Copy the exact wording from MCL 289.4102(3): "Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan department of agriculture and rural development."
Label falls off or becomes illegible during sale
Inkjet-printed labels that smear when wet, or labels applied with insufficient adhesive that peel during display.
✓ Fix: Use waterproof label paper or have labels printed professionally. Apply firmly to clean, dry packaging. Test a few labels before your first market day.
Not labeling every unit
Thinking it's okay to label one jar from a batch while leaving others unlabeled, or displaying unwrapped unlabeled baked goods at a booth.
✓ Fix: Michigan law requires all cottage food to be prepackaged and labeled before sale. Every single unit that leaves your hands must be individually packaged and labeled.