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What You Can Sell in Michigan

Michigan uses a strict positive list — if MDARD hasn't approved it, it's off the menu. Here's the complete breakdown of allowed products, caution items, and firm prohibitions for cottage food sellers.

The Ground Rule

Michigan's Positive List Approach

🔑 The Rule: If It's Not Listed, It's Not Allowed

Michigan takes a "positive list" approach to cottage food regulation. Unlike some states that only prohibit specific high-risk foods, Michigan explicitly enumerates which foods are permitted. If a product doesn't appear on MDARD's approved list, it is not eligible for cottage food sale — regardless of whether it seems low-risk.

This is more restrictive than many neighboring states. When in doubt, contact MDARD directly at 800-292-3939 or MDARD-CottageFood@michigan.gov before investing time and money in a product that may not qualify.

⚠️
All cottage food products must be non-potentially hazardous (non-TCS) — meaning they can be safely stored at room temperature and do not require refrigeration to prevent spoilage or foodborne illness. This is the threshold test that underlies every item on the approved list.

Category 1

Baked Goods

Baked goods are the backbone of Michigan's cottage food industry. The vast majority of standard bakery items qualify, provided they don't require refrigeration for safety.

🍞 Allowed Baked Goods ✓ Allowed
✓ Breads (all varieties)
✓ Rolls & dinner rolls
✓ Muffins
✓ Scones
✓ Biscuits
✓ Cookies
✓ Brownies & bars
✓ Cakes (shelf-stable)
✓ Cupcakes (shelf-stable)
✓ Fruit pies (shelf-stable)
✓ Croissants & pastries
✓ Donuts (glazed, cake)
✓ Cinnamon rolls (no cream cheese)
✓ Biscotti
✓ Quick breads (banana, zucchini)
✓ Crackers
Key test for baked goods: If your cake or pie can sit on the counter at room temperature for at least 2–3 days without safety concerns, it almost certainly qualifies. Frosted cakes are allowed as long as the frosting is shelf-stable (buttercream, royal icing) — not cream cheese, whipped cream, or pastry cream.
🚫 Prohibited Baked Goods ✗ Not Allowed
✗ Cheesecake
✗ Custard pies (pumpkin, egg)
✗ Cream pies (banana, coconut)
✗ Lemon meringue pie
✗ Cakes with cream cheese frosting
✗ Cream-filled pastries
✗ Rum cake & bourbon balls
✗ Any refrigeration-required item
Pumpkin pie contains egg and requires refrigeration — it is prohibited. Alcohol-containing baked goods (rum cake, bourbon balls) require a Michigan Liquor Control Commission license separate from cottage food.

Category 2

Jams, Jellies & Preserves

Michigan permits fruit-based jams and jellies that meet the federal standard of identity under 21 CFR Part 150. This is more specific than it sounds — not every fruit spread qualifies.

🍓 Allowed Jams & Jellies ✓ Allowed
✓ Strawberry jam
✓ Blueberry jam
✓ Cherry jam
✓ Raspberry jam
✓ Peach jam
✓ Grape jelly
✓ Apple jelly
✓ Mixed berry jam
✓ Plum jam
✓ Apricot jam
Must be in glass jars that can be stored at room temperature. Must meet the 21 CFR Part 150 definition of "jam" or "jelly" — which means they must use sugar (not sugar substitutes) and be made from fruit (not vegetables).
🚫 Prohibited Jam & Preserve Products ✗ Not Allowed
✗ Vegetable jams/jellies
✗ Tomato jam
✗ Hot pepper jelly
✗ Sugar-free jams
✗ No-sugar-added spreads
✗ Apple butter / fruit butters
✗ Pumpkin butter
✗ Marmalade (verify with MDARD)
✗ Canned pie fillings
Hot pepper jelly does not meet the 21 CFR Part 150 definition and is therefore not allowed. Apple butter and fruit butters are considered canned processed goods requiring licensed processing, not cottage food.

Category 3

Candy & Confections

🍬 Allowed Candies & Confections ✓ Allowed
✓ Hard candy
✓ Fudge
✓ Toffee
✓ Caramels (dry/shelf-stable)
✓ Brittle (nut, seed)
✓ Chocolate bark
✓ Chocolate truffles (shelf-stable)
✓ Marshmallows
✓ Lollipops
✓ Rock candy
✓ Chocolate-dipped pretzels
✓ Chocolate-dipped Oreos
✓ Chocolate-dipped fruits (dry)
✓ Rice Krispies treats
✓ Graham cracker treats
Chocolate-dipped strawberries and bananas are listed as allowed — but these require prompt sale and would need to be evaluated for shelf stability in practice. When in doubt on a specific chocolate-dipped item, confirm with MDARD.

Category 4

Dried, Packaged & Pantry Goods

🌿 Allowed Dried & Pantry Products ✓ Allowed
✓ Dried herbs (single & blended)
✓ Spice blends & rubs
✓ Dry baking mixes
✓ Dry soup mixes
✓ Dry dip mixes
✓ Dry pancake/waffle mix
✓ Dry hot chocolate mix
✓ Dry lemonade or tea mix
✓ Granola & granola bars
✓ Trail mix
✓ Cereal products
✓ Dried pasta (homemade)
✓ Roasted coffee beans
✓ Ground coffee
✓ Popcorn (plain & flavored)
✓ Caramel corn
✓ Roasted nuts
✓ Flavored nuts
✓ Dehydrated fruits
✓ Dehydrated vegetables
✓ Vinegar (plain & flavored)
✓ Flavored oils (verify)
Non-PHF/TCS dry bulk mixes purchased at wholesale may be repackaged as cottage food products — this is a specific allowance in the law. However, items that were already packaged and labeled for retail sale cannot simply be relabeled and resold.

Proceed with Care

Caution — Verify Before Selling

The following items fall into gray zones where Michigan's rules are either silent, ambiguous, or require direct MDARD confirmation. Do not sell these without verifying first.

⚠️ Items Requiring MDARD Verification ⚠ Verify
⚠️ Nut butters
⚠️ Flavored oils
⚠️ Freeze-dried foods
⚠️ Marmalade
⚠️ Powdered drink mixes
⚠️ Infused honey (not cottage food)
⚠️ Edible flowers (dried)
⚠️ Pet treats
Freeze-drying note: Freeze-drying of non-TCS foods (like candies or raw fruits excluding cut melon/tomatoes) is allowed IF conducted in a commercial freeze dryer to completion. Freeze-drying foods that require special safety processing (pickles, juices, beans) is not allowed. Nut butters are not on Michigan's positive list — contact MDARD before producing them. Honey is not a cottage food at all; it's regulated under separate apiary laws.

Off-Limits

Firmly Prohibited Products

These categories are categorically excluded from Michigan cottage food — no exceptions, no workarounds.

🚫 Prohibited Product Categories ✗ Not Allowed
✗ Meat & poultry products
✗ Beef jerky & dried meats
✗ Fish & seafood products
✗ Smoked fish
✗ Raw seed sprouts
✗ Home-canned goods (any)
✗ Pickles (canned)
✗ Canned salsa
✗ Canned tomato products
✗ Fermented hot sauce
✗ Kombucha & kefir
✗ Water kefir & jun tea
✗ Cheese & dairy products
✗ Bottled juices
✗ Bottled beverages
✗ Cream pies
✗ Refrigerated cakes
✗ Alcohol-infused items
✗ Pet food

Decision Tool

Is My Product Allowed? Quick Test

Run through these questions before investing in a new product line.

🌡️ Temperature Test
✓ Likely OK
  • Stays safe at room temp for 3+ days
  • Does not require refrigeration
  • No meat, dairy, eggs as key ingredients
✗ Stop Here
  • Would spoil or cause illness unrefrigerated
  • Contains meat, fish, or eggs (moist)
  • Requires time/temperature control
📋 Positive List Test
✓ Proceed
  • Explicitly listed in MDARD's allowed products
  • Clearly in a baked goods / jam / candy category
  • Similar to items on the approved list
✗ Verify First
  • Not explicitly listed anywhere
  • Is a new/novel food product type
  • Falls into fermented, canned, or dairy categories
📦 Processing Test
✓ Allowed Processing
  • Baking, roasting, drying
  • Mixing dry ingredients
  • Melting and molding chocolate
  • Standard jam/jelly making (fruit only)
✗ Not Allowed Processing
  • Home canning (pressure or water bath)
  • Fermentation (lacto or otherwise)
  • Juicing for bottled sale
  • Smoking or curing meat/fish
📞
Still unsure? Michigan's MDARD food inspectors are available to answer product-specific questions. Contact them at MDARD-CottageFood@michigan.gov or call 800-292-3939. Include your zip code so your inquiry is routed to a local inspector.