Every packaged cottage food product sold in Missouri must carry a compliant label before it leaves your hands. Here's every required element — including the exact disclaimer wording — so your labels are right from day one.
Missouri law specifies five required elements for every packaged cottage food product sold under RSMo § 196.298. All must be legible — readable by a consumer without magnification — and printed directly on or securely attached to the package.
This is a sample for illustration. Your label must include all five elements legibly. Allergen declarations are strongly recommended.
The disclaimer is the most important element unique to cottage food labeling. It must appear on every packaged product and inform buyers that the food was prepared in an uninspected home kitchen. Missouri law specifies the substance of this statement — exact wording may vary slightly, but the meaning must be clear and complete.
For all packaged cottage food products sold under RSMo § 196.298, the following statement (or substantively equivalent language) must appear on the label:
Some sellers use a slight variation referencing the "department" rather than the full agency name — both are acceptable as long as the meaning is preserved. The statement must reference the uninspected kitchen and the state health department. Using only "not inspected" without identifying the agency may be insufficient.
Missouri DHSS specifically recommends that honey producers include an additional statement on their labels. While not a statutory requirement, it is strongly advised for all honey products sold in Missouri:
This recommendation exists because raw honey can contain Clostridium botulinum spores that are harmless to adults but can cause infant botulism in babies under one year.
When selling unpackaged food by the individual portion at farmers markets, roadside stands, or events — rather than selling sealed, labeled packages — Missouri law requires a clearly visible placard at the point of sale. The placard must state:
The placard must be large enough to be clearly readable at the point of sale. Suggested minimum size: 5"×7" card with legible print. Place it visibly at your table or booth — not behind the products or out of the customer's line of sight.
Missouri's cottage food statute does not explicitly require allergen declarations beyond the general ingredient list. However, declaring the nine major food allergens recognized by FDA is strongly recommended — and increasingly expected by consumers. It's also simply the right thing to do for your customers' safety.
There are two accepted formats for allergen declarations. Use one of these approaches consistently across all your labels:
VERIFY: Missouri has not adopted specific state-level allergen labeling mandates for cottage food beyond the general ingredient list. For sellers doing significant volume, consulting with a food labeling specialist is recommended to ensure federal FDA labeling guidance is also met.
Net weight declarations must reflect the food content only — not the weight of jars, bags, or packaging. Both US customary and metric units should appear on the label. Here's how to declare weight correctly for common cottage food product types.
For cookies, cakes, breads, and other solid baked products, measure the net weight of the food after baking and cooling. Weigh without the bag, box, or container.
For jarred products, declare the weight of the jam or jelly — not the jar. Weigh the contents by filling weight. Standard jam jars are 8 oz (half pint) or 4 oz (quarter pint) fill weights.
Weigh the dried contents after packaging. Dried products are typically sold in smaller quantities. Use a precise kitchen scale — accuracy matters for regulatory compliance and customer trust.
For packages containing multiple identical items (e.g., a dozen cookies), you may declare by count plus weight: "12 cookies, Net Wt. 10 oz (284g)." The net weight of the total contents must still be declared.
The ingredient list is one of the most important label elements — and one of the easiest to get wrong. Follow these rules to build a compliant ingredient declaration.
Missouri law requires legibility — but doesn't specify minimum font sizes for cottage food labels. Here's practical guidance for creating labels that are both compliant and professional.
SellFood's Label Maker pre-fills the Missouri disclaimer statement automatically. Add your product name, ingredients, and net weight — download a print-ready label with everything required by Missouri law.
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