What Must Appear on Every Label
Texas cottage food labeling requirements are defined in Chapter 437 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. Every cottage food product — shelf-stable or TCS — must include all of the fields below. Fields marked with a blue badge are additional requirements for TCS (perishable) products only.
The Texas Cottage Food Disclaimer Statement
This is the exact text required by Chapter 437 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. It must appear in all capital letters on every cottage food product label — word for word, no substitutions or paraphrasing.
Copy this text exactly onto every label
This statement must appear in all capital letters, exactly as written above. Texas law does not specify a minimum font size for this statement on shelf-stable products (though 8pt is a practical floor for readability). For TCS products, the safe handling instructions must be in at least 12-point font — the disclaimer itself has no stated minimum for shelf-stable products.
This is the most commonly missing element on cottage food labels inspected at Texas farmers markets. Market managers, customers, and DSHS all look for it. If it's not on your label, print new labels before your next market day.
SellFood's Label Creator has this disclaimer pre-loaded for Texas products — it appears automatically on every label you design when your state is set to Texas. Open the Label Creator →
Allergen Labeling
Texas cottage food labeling requires disclosure of all major food allergens present in your product, consistent with FDA allergen labeling standards. As of 2023, the FDA recognizes nine major food allergens. If your product contains any of these — or was made in a kitchen that processes them — you must disclose that on the label.
How to List Allergens on Your Label
There are two accepted formats for allergen disclosure under FDA standards, both of which satisfy Texas cottage food requirements:
- Parenthetical declaration: List the allergen in parentheses after the ingredient name — e.g., "Flour (wheat), Butter (milk), Egg"
- "Contains" statement: Add a separate "Contains: Wheat, Milk, Eggs" statement after the ingredients list. This is easier to read and is the format most commonly recommended for cottage food labels.
If your product contains tree nuts, specify which ones — "tree nuts (almonds, pecans)" is clearer and more helpful than "tree nuts" alone, though either meets the requirement.
If your product contains no major allergens, you may still choose to include a "Contains no major food allergens" statement — this builds trust with customers who have allergies. You may optionally add a "May contain traces of [allergen]" advisory if your kitchen processes allergens that aren't in the product but could cause cross-contact.
Sesame was added in 2023. It became the 9th major food allergen under the FASTER Act. If your products contain sesame seeds, tahini, sesame oil, or any other sesame-derived ingredient, it must be disclosed. This catches many bakers and granola makers who forgot sesame was added to the list.
Additional Requirements for Perishable Products
If your product is a TCS (perishable, refrigerated) food, two additional label elements are required beyond the standard fields above.
Two extra fields required on all TCS product labels
12-point font is larger than you think on a small label. On a 2×4" label, 12pt text takes up significant space. Design your TCS labels to accommodate this — it may mean a slightly larger label size or a more compact layout for the other required fields.
Net Weight and Measurement Rules
Texas does not impose additional net weight labeling requirements beyond federal Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) standards, which apply to all packaged food products sold in the United States.
The net quantity of contents — the amount of food in the package — must appear on the principal display panel (the front-facing side of the label) in a consistent, readable location. It must be expressed in both US customary units and metric units for most products.
| Product Type | Measure | Format Example | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid foods (jams, baked goods, candy) | Weight | Net Wt. 8 oz (227g) | Front label, bottom 30% |
| Liquid products (sauces, juices, beverages) | Volume | Net 12 fl oz (355mL) | Front label, bottom 30% |
| Viscous products (honey, nut butters) | Weight or Volume | Net Wt. 12 oz (340g) | Front label, bottom 30% |
| Dry mixes, spice blends | Weight | Net Wt. 2 oz (57g) | Front label, bottom 30% |
The net weight declaration must be accurate — fill your containers consistently and weigh a sample regularly. FDA small business nutrition labeling exemptions do not exempt you from net weight requirements, which are separate regulations under the FPLA.
Font Size — What Texas Requires
Texas cottage food law specifies only one explicit font size requirement: the safe handling instructions on TCS products must appear in at least 12-point font. There is no stated minimum font size for any other required label element in the Texas cottage food statute.
In practice, all label text should be large enough to be clearly readable — the FDA general guidance of 1/16th inch (approximately 6pt) minimum for ingredient and allergen statements is a reasonable floor for any element. Printing text smaller than 6pt on a food label is a readability problem regardless of legality.
The disclaimer statement ("THIS PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED IN A PRIVATE RESIDENCE...") should be printed at a size that makes it visible to a customer reading the label — 7pt or larger is standard practice for this statement in cottage food markets across Texas.
Design tip: Print a test label at actual size before ordering a full run. A disclaimer at 6pt looks acceptable on screen but can be nearly unreadable on the physical label. Most experienced cottage food sellers keep the disclaimer at 7–8pt minimum, and the safe handling instructions (TCS only) at exactly 12pt.
Create Compliant Texas Labels
SellFood's Label Creator is the fastest way to build a compliant Texas cottage food label. The Texas disclaimer is pre-loaded, allergen checkboxes are built in, and you can download a print-ready PNG right from your browser.
Label Creator — Texas Compliant
Design professional cottage food labels with the Texas disclaimer pre-filled, allergen fields, ingredient list, net weight, and your brand. Free with a SellFood account — no design skills needed.
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