Kansas Cottage Food Law: Do You Need Food Safety Training?

Selling homemade food can be a great way to share your products and earn extra income, but every state has its own rules you need to follow.

Each state sets its own regulations that define what you can make, where and how you can sell it, and whether you need food safety training.

This article explains Kansas’s homemade food rules and whether you need food safety training to sell homemade food.

Kansas homemade food rules

Kansas allows you to make and sell many types of homemade, shelf-stable foods directly to people without a food license, as long as the products do not require time or temperature control for safety.

Here are examples of allowed foods:

• Baked goods like cookies, breads, and cakes that don’t require refrigeration
• Candies such as caramels or fudge
• High-acid jams and jellies
• Dry mixes like cookie or brownie mixes
• Nuts, granola, or popcorn products

These products must be shelf-stable and safe to store at room temperature.

You cannot sell foods that require refrigeration or specialized processing, including:

• Cheesecakes, cream pies, and custards
• Cream-filled baked goods
• Home-canned vegetables, pickles, or salsas
• Low-acid canned foods
• Refrigerated foods that must stay cold for safety

Selling these types of foods requires meeting additional food processing requirements and obtaining the appropriate license through the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

You can sell allowed homemade foods directly to people at farmers markets, community events, roadside stands, or from your home. You can also sell online and deliver or ship products directly to customers within Kansas.

You cannot sell wholesale, to restaurants, or to grocery stores for resale.

Do you need food safety training to sell homemade food in Kansas?

Kansas does not require food safety training or a food handler card to sell homemade foods that qualify under the exempt, shelf-stable category.

Still, taking a food safety course is a smart choice — both for protecting your customers and for building trust in your business. Some farmers markets, event organizers, or insurance providers may ask for proof of training before allowing you to participate.

To ensure your training meets recognized standards, choose an ANSI–National Accreditation Board (ANAB)–accredited food handler course.

FoodSafePal’s Food Handler course is ANAB accredited, fully online, and takes about 90 minutes to complete. Once you pass, you’ll get instant access to your food handler card and certificate, plus the option to order a printed version for display at markets or for your records.

Labeling requirements

Kansas requires that all packaged homemade foods include certain information so consumers know what they are buying.

At minimum, your label must include:

• The name and physical address of the person or business making the product
• The common name of the product
• The ingredients in descending order by weight
• The net weight or volume of the product

If you sell items in bulk or use containers that customers fill themselves, you must clearly display the required information at the point of sale.

Labels should be placed directly on the product’s packaging or on a tag securely attached to it.

The bottom line

Kansas allows you to make and sell many types of shelf-stable homemade foods directly to consumers without needing a food license.

You cannot sell perishable or TCS foods like cheesecakes, refrigerated baked goods, or low-acid canned foods, and you cannot sell your products to restaurants or stores for resale.

Food safety training isn’t required, but taking an ANAB-accredited course from FoodSafePal can strengthen your business, build customer trust, and help you meet the expectations of markets or insurance providers.

All products must be properly labeled with your contact information, product name, ingredient list, and net quantity.