Rhode Island Cottage Food Law: Food Safety Training Requirements
Food made in a home kitchen that is then sold directly to customers is known as cottage food.
Each state has it’s own cottage food law, regulating the types of foods you can make and sell, how and to whom you sell, and even how much money you can make each year.
Before you can operate a cottage food business, many states require the completion of an approved food safety training course, among other requirements.
This article discusses the Rhode Island cottage food law, and whether you need food safety training to sell homemade food.

Rhode Island cottage food production
Rhode Island’s cottage food law allows the production and sale of homemade goods that don’t require time or temperature controls to keep them safe.
Examples of approved foods include:
- baked goods (without cream, custard, or cheese)
- candy and confections
- cereals, grains, and granola
- dry herbs, pasta, seasonings, soup mixes, and tea
- jams, jellies, and preserves
- nuts and nut mixes
Conversely, you cannot make and sell foods that require time or temperature controls such as meats, poultry, milk or dairy products, and cut or sliced produce.
Rhode Island requires that you sell your homemade goods directly to people by pick up or delivery within the state.
You can sell at public events like farmers’ markets and festivals, but you need a retail peddler license.
You cannot sell your products to licensed food establishments like restaurants or places that prepare and serve food like healthcare facilities, group homes, or schools.
Because Rhode Island regulates cottage food businesses differently than retail food establishments, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) won’t routinely inspect your home kitchen.
However, the department of health can inspect your inspection if the receive customer complaints about the safety of the food you sell or to investigate foodborne illness outbreaks potentially linked with your products.
Your kitchen must also meet certain requirements:
- have a two-compartment sink or a dishwasher that reaches 150ºF
- have food preparation surfaces that are nonabsorbent and made of durable material like stainless steel, laminate, or other chip-resistant surface
- have self-closing doors for bathrooms that open directly into the kitchen
You’ll need a notarized affidavit attesting that your kitchen meets these requirements.
Rhode Island limits the the annual revenue you can earn from the sale of your homemade goods to $50,000. You can exceed this amount if you obtain a food processor license.
Summary
Under the Rhode Island cottage food law, you can sell foods that don’t require time-temperature controls for safety directly to customers within the state.
Do you need food safety training to sell homemade food in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island requires that you obtain a food handler certificate from a certificate issuer that is accredited by the ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB).
A food handlers certificate proves that you have completed a course on basic food safety principles and passed a test about these principles.
FoodSafePal’s Food Handler course is ANAB accredited so it meets Rhode Island’s cottage food law requirements for food safety training.

Earn Your Food Handlers Card + Certificate to Sell Cottage Foods
Accredited & Meets Rhode Island’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 from hazards that can make people sick.
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.
You can learn and test in under two hours completely online.
Upon passing, you can immediately download or print it as proof that you have completed the training.
You will need this certificate to apply for registration with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). View the application here.
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 training by retaking and passing the course every three years.
Summary
Rhode Island’s cottage food law requires the completion of a ANAB-accredited food handler course, such as the one offered by FoodSafePal.
Labeling requirements
Rhode Island’s cottage food law requires that each product you sell is properly labeled with certain information.
This information allow your customers to contact you in the case of an illness potentially linked to your product.
It also informs customers of allergens that may be present and that the food is produced in a home kitchen not routinely inspected by the health department.
This label must include the following information:
- your business name, home address, and phone number
- the common or usual name of the product
- the ingredients listed in descending order of predominance by weight
- allergen information as specified by federal labeling requirements
- the following statement in at least 10-point type: “Made by a Cottage Food Business Registrant That is Not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection.”

Summary
Rhode Island’s cottage food law requires that each food you wish to make and sell have a label with the required information, such as contact information for your business and the list of your product’s ingredients.
The bottom line
Under the Rhode Island 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 want to start a cottage food business in Rhode Island, you must first earn a food handlers card by completing and passing an ANAB-accredited food handler training course, such as the one offered by FoodSafePal.
After you complete the course and pass the test, you will be issued a certificate as proof of completion. You will need to include a copy with your application to register your business. You must maintain this certificate by retaking an approved food safety course every three years.

Earn Your Food Handlers Card + Certificate to Sell Cottage Foods
Accredited & Meets Rhode Island’s Cottage Food Law
Each food you make and sell must also have a label with the required information.