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Cottage Food Labels

Maine cottage food label requirements

Maine regulates homemade food through a licensed (and inspected) Home Food Processor system plus local Food Sovereignty ordinances, with no statewide sales cap. There is no single statutory 'made in a home kitchen not inspected' sentence, so any home-kitchen disclosure is a conservative composed statement; products sold outside the home must carry name, address, ingredients, allergens and net weight.

Suggested home-kitchen disclosure

“Made in a home kitchen that is not licensed or inspected by the State of Maine.”

Maine does not mandate a specific disclosure statement for cottage food. The line above is an optional, commonly used disclaimer; confirm current requirements with the official source before selling.

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

Permits & training: Two pathways: (1) a state Home Food Processor / manufacturing license from Maine DACF (annual, kitchen IS inspected) for retail/wholesale; or (2) selling under a municipal Food Sovereignty ordinance directly to an informed end-consumer without a license. Maine statute does not prescribe a single 'not inspected' label sentence; the disclosure shown is a conservative statement for the unlicensed food-sovereignty pathway.

What goes on a Maine cottage label

  • Common or usual product name
  • Producer name and where the food was made (address)
  • Ingredients in descending order by weight
  • Major allergen declaration
  • Net weight/quantity in standard units

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 Maine label for free

Prefilled for Maine. 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.

Maine home-kitchen disclosure

Maine does not mandate a specific disclosure statement. The line on the label is an optional, commonly used disclaimer; confirm current requirements with the official source before selling. Official source ↗

Live preview

Free
Your Product Name
INGREDIENTS: List your ingredients to auto-order them by weight.
Made in a home kitchen that is not licensed or inspected by the State of Maine.
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.

Maine cottage food label FAQ

What must a cottage food label include in Maine?
In Maine, a cottage food label typically includes: Common or usual product name; Producer name and where the food was made (address); Ingredients in descending order by weight; Major allergen declaration; Net weight/quantity in standard units. See the home-kitchen disclosure section above for whether your state mandates specific wording.
Does Maine require a home-kitchen disclosure statement?
Maine does not mandate a specific home-kitchen disclosure statement. Many sellers still add an optional line such as “Made in a home kitchen that is not licensed or inspected by the State of Maine.” Confirm current requirements with the official source before printing.
Do I need a permit or registration to sell cottage food in Maine?
Yes. Maine requires a permit or registration for cottage food sales. Two pathways: (1) a state Home Food Processor / manufacturing license from Maine DACF (annual, kitchen IS inspected) for retail/wholesale; or (2) selling under a municipal Food Sovereignty ordinance directly to an informed end-consumer without a license. Maine statute does not prescribe a single 'not inspected' label sentence; the disclosure shown is a conservative statement for the unlicensed food-sovereignty pathway. Always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above.
Can I sell cottage food online in Maine?
Yes. Maine 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 Maine?
Maine 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 Maine?
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 Maine'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 Maine's official cottage-food guidance (linked above) · Panelry