Illinois Cottage Food Law: Required Food Safety Training

Each state has its own cottage food law, regulating what foods you can make and sell, how and where you can sell them, and what safety requirements you must meet.

Before you can operate a cottage food business, most states — including Illinois — require you to complete an approved food safety training course, among other steps.

This article discusses the Illinois cottage food law and whether you need food safety training to sell homemade food.

Illinois cottage food production

Illinois allows the production and sale of a wide variety of foods under its cottage food law.

Examples of permitted foods include:

• baked goods (without cream or custard fillings)
• jams, jellies, and fruit butters
• dry herbs and spices
• granola and trail mix
• popcorn, dry noodles, and candy
• acidified and fermented foods (if properly tested or approved)

Foods you cannot sell under Illinois’ cottage food law include:

• alcoholic beverages or kombucha
• meat, poultry, and seafood
• dairy products or eggs (except as an ingredient in a nonhazardous baked good)
• cut leafy greens, unless dehydrated, acidified, or frozen
• any food requiring refrigeration unless otherwise tested and approved

Illinois allows you to sell directly to customers at:

• farmers markets
• fairs and festivals
• your home or farm (for pickup)
• online (within Illinois)
• via delivery (within Illinois)

You may not sell to restaurants, stores, or anyone who intends to resell your product.

Shipping is allowed only within Illinois and only for nonhazardous foods. Each product must be sealed with tamper-evident packaging.

Illinois does not regulate cottage food operations in the same way it regulates retail food establishments, but your local health department may inspect your kitchen if there is a complaint or concern about food safety.

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

To sell homemade food in Illinois, you must earn your food manager certification — also known as the Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM).

You earn this certification by passing an exam accredited by the ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB) under the Conference for Food Protection standards.

You’ll need to submit proof of your certification when registering with your local health department. It’s also good to keep this certificate in a safe and easily accessible, and while not required, it’s best practice to have it on display at the point of sale and posted on your website if you have one.

You must maintain the certification by passing the test every five years.

There are no prerequisites to take the exam, but it’s wise to study for it by completing a food manager training course.

FoodSafePal’s food manager training is clear, focused, and practical, with no filler — just what you need to know to feel confident on exam day.

After you complete the training, you can take FoodSafePal’s food manager certification exam online to officially earn your CFPM certification.

Our Illinois cottage food certification page walks through how the certification fits your registration with your local health department.

Labeling requirements

Illinois’ cottage food law requires that each product you sell is properly labeled with certain information.

Every product you sell must have a label that includes:

• your business name and the county where you’re registered
• your registration number
• the product’s common or usual name
• a complete ingredient list in descending order by weight
• allergen information, either within the ingredients or in a “Contains” statement
• the date the product was made
• net quantity statement
• the following statement:
  “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.”

If you make items that are not easily labeled like cakes or small items like chocolates, you must request an exception and provide signage that includes all required labeling information at the point of sale.

The bottom line

Under the Illinois cottage food law, you can make and sell a wide range of foods, like baked goods, dry mixes, canned jams, and more.

If you want to start a cottage food business in Illinois, you must earn your CFPM credential by passing an accredited exam.

FoodSafePal offers the training to help you prepare for this exam as well as the accredited food manager certification exam.

After you pass the exam, you’ll receive a certificate valid for five years. You’ll need to include a copy of it with your registration paperwork to your local health department.

Each food you make and sell must also have a label with the required information.