Nebraska Cottage Food Law: Food Safety Training Requirements
Cottage food refers to food made in a home kitchen for sale.
Each state enforces its own cottage food law, regulating the types of food producers can make and sell, specifying to whom and how the food can be sold, and even determining the maximum revenue that can be earned each year from the sale of homemade goods.
Before producers can sell their homemade goods, many states require the completion of a basic food safety course, among other requirements.
This article discusses the Nebraska cottage food law, and whether you need food safety training to sell homemade food.
Nebraska cottage food production
Nebraska’s cottage food law allows the production and sale of foods that don’t require time or temperature controls to keep them safe.
Examples of allowed foods include:
- baked goods (made without toppings or fillings that require refrigeration)
- jams, jellies, and preserves
- hard candy and chocolate confections
- popcorn, popcorn balls, and kettle corn
- nuts and seeds
- whole roasted coffee beans
- pretzels and crackers
Conversely, disallowed foods include items like beverages, any type of meat, seafood, or poultry, and cut fruits and vegetables
Nebraska requires that producers sell allowed foods directly to people living in the state. This can include at farmers’ market, fairs, festivals, and craft shows, or for pick up at or delivery from the your home.
Because Nebraska does not regulate cottage food businesses in the same way it does retail food establishments like restaurants, the health department won’t inspect your home kitchen.
However, they may if they receive complaints about the safety of the products you make and sell or if a foodborne illness outbreak has been linked with your products.
Unlike many other states, Nebraska has no limit on the amount of revenue a producer can earn each year from the sale of their homemade goods.
Summary
Under the Nebraska cottage food law, you can sell foods that don’t require time-temperature controls for safety directly to customers. There is no limit to the amount of revenue you can earn each year from the sale of your homemade goods.
Do you need food safety training to sell homemade food in Nebraska?
Prior to opening for business, Nebraska requires the completion of a nationally accredited or other state-approved food safety and handling course, unless you plan to sell at Farmers’ markets only.
FoodSafePal’s Food Handler online course meets this requirement since it holds ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accreditation.
Earn Your Food Handlers Card + Certificate to Sell Cottage Foods
Accredited & Meets Nebraska’s Cottage Food Law
FoodSafePal’s Food Handler course is designed for food workers in retail food establishments so some of the content isn’t applicable to cottage food operators.
Still, it covers the important food safety principles you must know to keep your homemade products safe, and in turn, your customers safe.
The course is completely online and you can learn and test in under two hours.
After you complete the course content, you must take a test and answer at least 28 (70%) out of 40 multiple-choice question to pass and earn your food handlers certificate and card.
Upon passing, you can immediately download or print your food handlers certificate and card.
It’s best practice to display a copy of this certificate at the point of sale for customers to see and, if you have one, on your website.
Also, as part of the cottage food business registration process with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, you will need to enter the name of the course and date you completed it.
You must maintain the training by retaking and passing the course every three years.
You can register your cottage food business with Nebraska here.
Summary
Nebraska’s cottage food law requires the completion of a state-approved or nationally accredited food handler course, such as the one offered by FoodSafePal, before you can produce and sell homemade goods.
Labeling requirements
In addition to taking an approved food handler course, Nebraska also has certain product labeling requirements.
Each product you sell must contain a label with the name and address of you or your business.
The state also requires that you disclose at the point of sale that the food was prepared in a kitchen that is not subject to regulation and inspection by the regulatory authority and may contain allergens.
You don’t need to put this on the label, but it makes sense for many producers.
Also, while not required, it’s best practice to provide a list of ingredients in descending order by weight so that customer’s can identify any ingredients to which they may be allergic.
Summary
Nebraska’s cottage food law requires that each food you wish to make and sell have a label with the required information.
The bottom line
Under the Nebraska cottage food law, you can produce and sell foods that don’t require time or temperature controls like baked and other dry goods directly to people throughout the state.
If you aren’t planning to sell your homemade goods exclusively at a farmer’s market, you must first complete a state-approved or nationally accredited food safety training course, such as the one offered by FoodSafePal.
Earn Your Food Handlers Card + Certificate to Sell Cottage Foods
Accredited & Meets Nebraska’s Cottage Food Law
After you complete the course and pass the test, you will be issued a certificate as proof of completion. You must maintain this certificate by retaking and passing the course every three years. It’s best practice to display this certificate at the point of sale.
Each food you make and sell must also have a label with the required information.