Oklahoma Cottage Food Law: Required Food Handler 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 cottage food or “homemade food” laws that define what you can make, where and how you can sell it, and whether you need food safety training.

This article explains Oklahoma’s Homemade Food Freedom Act and whether you need food safety training to sell homemade food.

Oklahoma cottage food law

Oklahoma’s Homemade Food Freedom Act is one of the most flexible homemade food laws in the country. It allows you to make and sell a wide range of homemade foods directly from your home kitchen without needing a license.

The law covers both shelf-stable foods and some foods that require refrigeration, but each category has its own rules.

Allowed foods

You may produce and sell many types of homemade foods, including:

• Baked goods such as breads, cookies, brownies, and cakes with hard icings
• Candies, fudge, and confections
• Dry mixes, granola, nuts, and nut butters
• Fruit jams and jellies made using approved canning recipes (USDA or Ball Blue Book)
• Pickles, fermented foods, and most salsas
• Roasted coffee beans
• Many other shelf-stable foods that do not require refrigeration

Oklahoma also allows some foods that require refrigeration for safety, as long as you complete approved food safety training first. These foods include:

• Cheesecakes and custard pies
• Refrigerated or perishable baked goods
• Cooked vegetables, sauces, and soups
• Cooked pasta, rice, beans, or potatoes
• Processed fruits or vegetables
• Smoothies and certain flavored beverages
• Any other food that must be kept cold to be safe

Foods you cannot sell

Some foods are prohibited under Oklahoma law. You may not sell:

• Anything containing meat, poultry, seafood, or fish
• Foods made with homemade lard, broth, or tallow
• Alcohol-infused foods
• Cannabis-infused foods or ingredients
• Unpasteurized milk or dairy
• Pet food or pet treats
• Whole unprocessed produce or nuts (though you may use them as ingredients)

Oklahoma gives sellers broad flexibility for selling shelf-stable homemade foods. You may sell directly to people from your home, through retail stores, markets, or any third-party vendor within the state.

However, foods that require refrigeration are more limited. These items:

• May only be sold directly from the producer to the consumer
• Cannot be sold through retail stores, markets, or any third-party vendor
• Must be sold and delivered within Oklahoma

There is a $75,000 annual sales cap. Exceeding this amount requires moving to a licensed or inspected commercial kitchen.

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

You do not need food safety training to sell shelf-stable foods that do not require refrigeration.

However, if you want to make and sell refrigerated foods, Oklahoma requires you to complete an approved food safety training program before selling. The state accepts courses that are accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), which ensures the training meets nationally recognized food safety standards.

Still, completing a food safety training course can make a big difference for your business — even if you only sell shelf-stable products. Customers want to feel confident that the food they buy is safe, and a food handler card shows that you care about their health and your reputation.

Food safety training can also create more selling opportunities. Some markets, event organizers, retail partners, or insurance providers may require or prefer proof of training, even though the law doesn’t.

FoodSafePal’s Food Handler course is ANAB-accredited and approved by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to meet this training requirement. The course is easy to follow, includes helpful knowledge checks, and takes about 90 minutes to complete.

Once you pass, you’ll get instant digital 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

All homemade foods in Oklahoma must include a label or placard with the following:

• Your name, contact information, and address (or HFFA registration number)
• The product name
• All ingredients listed in descending order by weight
• Allergen information for the nine major allergens
• The required statement: “This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from government licensing and inspection.”

If you sell online, this information must also appear on your website, and each shipped item must include a label.

Oklahoma offers an optional registration number (HFFA number) you may use in place of listing your name and address.

The bottom line

Oklahoma’s Homemade Food Freedom Act allows you to sell a wide range of homemade foods with fewer restrictions than many states. You can sell shelf-stable foods through retailers, markets, and online, while any foods that require refrigeration for safety can only be sold if you complete approved food safety training and must be sold directly to people.

Food safety training is required for refrigerated foods, and Oklahoma accepts ANAB-accredited courses — including FoodSafePal’s Food Handler course — to meet this requirement. Even if you only sell shelf-stable foods, completing an ANAB-accredited course can still benefit your business by building customer trust and meeting expectations from markets or insurance providers that may prefer or require training.

Labeling is required for all products, whether packaged or unpackaged.