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Cottage Food Labels

Illinois cottage food label requirements

Illinois requires a verbatim IDPH disclosure that the product was made in an uninspected home kitchen that may process allergens, plus product name, ingredients, allergens, net weight, processing date, and the local registration number. Registration and food-manager training are mandatory; there is no sales cap but only direct-to-consumer sales (including online) are allowed.

Required home-kitchen disclosure

“This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens. If you have safety concerns, contact your local health department.”

This is the statement your state requires, reproduced from its official rule.

Official Illinois source
Annual sales cap
No cap / not specified
Permit / registration
Required
Online sales
Allowed
Retail / wholesale
Direct only

Permits & training: Must register with the local health department (up to ~$50/year, renewed annually) and complete an approved Food Service Sanitation/Food Protection Manager training course (~$99).

What goes on a Illinois cottage label

  • Common or usual name of the food product
  • All ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight (including any color, artificial flavor, preservative)
  • Major food allergen labeling (milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, sesame)
  • Net weight
  • Date the product was processed
  • Registration number provided by the local health department
  • Name of the municipality or county where the registration was filed
  • Name of the cottage food operation

Scaling past cottage food?

Selling into retail or wholesale, shipping across state lines, or making a claim like “low sugar” usually means your product needs a full FDA Nutrition Facts panel, not just a cottage label. Panelry builds one from your recipe with exact FDA rounding for $9, no subscription.

Build an FDA nutrition label →

Make your Illinois label for free

Prefilled for Illinois. Add your product and ingredients, and export a compliant label in minutes.

Auto-ordered by weight

Tip: use parentheses for sub-ingredients, like “Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Cocoa, Cocoa Butter)”.

Auto-detected from your ingredients. Tap to add or remove. Always double-check.

Illinois home-kitchen disclosure

This is the statement your state requires on the label. Official source ↗

Live preview

Free
Your Product Name
INGREDIENTS: List your ingredients to auto-order them by weight.
This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens. If you have safety concerns, contact your local health department.
Made free with Panelry · getpanelry.com

Add product name, business name, business address, at least one ingredient, net weight to export a complete label.

Verify before selling

Cottage-food rules vary by state and change often. Confirm your label against your state's current requirements. Panelry is not legal advice.

Illinois cottage food label FAQ

What must a cottage food label include in Illinois?
In Illinois, a cottage food label typically includes: Common or usual name of the food product; All ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight (including any color, artificial flavor, preservative); Major food allergen labeling (milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, sesame); Net weight; Date the product was processed; Registration number provided by the local health department; Name of the municipality or county where the registration was filed; Name of the cottage food operation. It must also carry the required home-kitchen disclosure shown above.
What is the required home-kitchen disclosure in Illinois?
“This product was produced in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department that may also process common food allergens. If you have safety concerns, contact your local health department.” This wording is reproduced from the state's official rule.
Do I need a permit or registration to sell cottage food in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois requires a permit or registration for cottage food sales. Must register with the local health department (up to ~$50/year, renewed annually) and complete an approved Food Service Sanitation/Food Protection Manager training course (~$99). Always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above.
Can I sell cottage food online in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois allows cottage food to be sold online. Check the official source for current rules on delivery and shipping.
Is there a sales cap for cottage food in Illinois?
Illinois does not specify a general annual sales cap for cottage food. Confirm with the official source.
Do I need a Nutrition Facts panel for cottage food in Illinois?
Usually not for direct cottage-food sales. Most sellers only need the ingredient, allergen, net-weight, and disclosure label this page's free tool makes. You generally do need an FDA Nutrition Facts panel once you sell into retail or wholesale, ship across state lines, or make a nutrient claim like “low sugar.”

Cottage food labels in other states

Verify before selling

Cottage-food rules change often. Confirm Illinois's current requirements with the official source above before printing or selling. Panelry is not affiliated with any government agency and does not provide legal advice. See our disclaimer.

Last verified July 2026 against Illinois's official cottage-food guidance (linked above) · Panelry