Homemade Food FAQ

Go to Homemade Food, Types of Food, or Requirements for Selling for more information.

What is homemade food?

Homemade food, sometimes called ‘cottage food’, is food or drink that is prepared by a producer in their private home kitchen or in a kitchen that they lease.

Do I need to register or get a permit to sell homemade food?

No, there are no State registration or permitting requirements for homemade food producers. However, cities and municipalities may require permits or registration in order for you to sell homemade food within their jurisdiction. Please contact your local officials to verify any local requirements. Additionally, these rules do not supersede the Municipality of Anchorage or other city ordinances. The Municipality of Anchorage has its own requirements for selling cottage food (homemade food).

Will my house need to be inspected before I can sell homemade food?

No, there is no inspection requirement for homemade food. DEC will not conduct initial or routine inspections of home kitchens.

Are there any special requirements regarding my home on-site well or wastewater (septic) system?

No.

Can I make products in a rented kitchen and sell them?

Yes, producers may make their homemade food products in their own home kitchen or in a kitchen that they lease.

Are there any food safety training requirements for homemade food producers?

There are no requirements for producers to complete food safety training prior to producing and selling their homemade food.

What are some examples of food I can produce and sell?

Examples of non-potentially hazardous food that can be sold as homemade food include bread, cakes, cookies, crackers, muffins, jams and jellies, vinegar, mustards, salsas, relishes, sauces, fudge, candies, brittles, sauerkraut, kimchi, popcorn, dried herb mixtures, roasted coffee beans, tortillas, etc. Please keep in mind that some of these examples could become potentially hazardous if an ingredient is included that makes the product require time or temperature control to be safe. For example, focaccia bread is likely non-potentially hazardous, but if you add cheese on top of the bread, it will require refrigeration and will now be a potentially hazardous product.

Examples of potentially hazardous food that can be sold as homemade food include baked products that require refrigeration (e.g., cheesecakes, pumpkin pie, lemon meringue), hummus, fresh vegetable juices, cold brew coffee, etc. A good rule of thumb is that if it needs to be refrigerated to preserve it, it is more than likely potentially hazardous. Please visit Determining Non-potentially Hazardous Foods for more information on how to determine if your food product is potentially hazardous.

What types of foods cannot be sold as homemade food?

Please refer to Food That Cannot Be Sold As Homemade Food for more information. In general, the following products cannot be sold as homemade food:

Milk or milk products
Meat or meat food products
Poultry or poultry products
Game meat or food that contains game meat
Seafood or food that contains seafood
Shellfish or food that contains shellfish
Reindeer or reindeer meat products
Nonamenable species or products of nonamenable species
Food that contains uninspected or inspection-exempt meat
Food that contains uninspected or inspection-exempt poultry
Food that contains uninspected products of nonamenable species
Oils rendered from animal fat or food that contains those oils
Controlled substances or food that contains controlled substances

What is the difference between potentially hazardous and non-potentially hazardous food?

Foods fall into one of two categories: potentially hazardous or non-potentially hazardous. Potentially hazardous food and drink products require time and/or temperature control to be safe for people to eat. If these foods are not kept at the correct temperature or discarded after a certain amount of time, microorganisms and toxins can reach dangerous levels and make people sick. A few examples of potentially hazardous food include beef burritos, cheesecake, and mixtures of garlic in oil. Under the homemade food rule, potentially hazardous food must be sold by the producer directly to the consumer. Another person cannot sell potentially hazardous homemade food on behalf of the producer.

Non-potentially hazardous food and drink products do not require time or temperature controls to be safe to eat. These foods might be thought of as 'shelf-stable' because they can sit out for a long period of time and do not have to be refrigerated or heated to be safe to eat. Examples of non-potentially hazardous food include items such as jam, fudge, sourdough bread, pickles, and granola. Under the homemade food rule, non-potentially hazardous food can be sold directly to the consumer by the producer or an agent of the producer. Visit Determining Non-Potentially Hazardous Foods for more information about evaluating whether your product is potentially hazardous or non-potentially hazardous.

Can I use homegrown fruits and vegetables in homemade food products?

Yes.

Can I include meat in my homemade food products?

Yes, producers may include meat (from cattle, goats, sheep, swine, and catfish) in their homemade food as long as the meat or meat product being used was produced under USDA inspection. Homemade food that contains meat will be sold as potentially hazardous food. Visit Types of Food for more information.

Can I include poultry in my homemade food products?

Yes, producers may include poultry (from domesticated chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, ratites, and squabs) in their homemade food as long as the poultry or poultry product being used was produced under USDA inspection. Homemade food that contains poultry will be sold as potentially hazardous food. Visit Types of Food for more information.

Can I include game meat or products from nonamenable species in my homemade food products?

Game meat cannot be used in homemade food products. Producers may only use meat or poultry of nonamenable species that were produced under USDA inspection, commonly from bison, reindeer, elk, yak, pheasant, and quail. Homemade food that contains meat or poultry will be sold as potentially hazardous food. Visit Types of Food for more information.

Can I sell dairy products, such as homemade cheese or ice cream?

Milk and milk products (cheese, butter, kefir, yogurt) made from animal milk are regulated separately under 18 AAC 32 and cannot be sold under the homemade food rule. Ice cream, cheesecake, custards, and other processed foods that use milk or milk products can be sold under the homemade food rule if the milk is Grade "A". If you are interested in selling milk or milk products, please visit the Alaska Dairy Program.

Can I sell meat, meat products, poultry, and poultry products as homemade food?

No, the production and processing of meat and poultry are not regulated by the State of Alaska. The USDA has some exemptions that allow for the production, processing, and sale of meat and poultry without USDA inspection. If you have questions about the federal requirements and/or exemptions associated with selling meat, meat products, poultry, or poultry products, please contact USDA FSIS at fsis.usda.gov/contact-us/askfsis.

Do I have to put a label on my homemade food?

Yes, all homemade foods packaged for individual sale must be clearly and prominently labeled with the producer’s name, current address, telephone number, and business license number, as well as the statement, “This food was made in a home kitchen, is not regulated or inspected, except for meat and meat products, and may contain allergens.”

When selling unpackaged homemade food, the producer or agent of the producer must inform the buyer that the food was prepared in accordance with AS 17.20.332-17.20.338 and is not subject to certain state certification, labeling, licensing, packaging, regulation, or inspection requirements, and provide the buyer with the producer’s name, current address, telephone number, and business license number.

Do I have to include my home address on my product label?

Yes, the current address of the producer is part of the required labeling.

Where can I sell my homemade food products?

Homemade food must be sold in Alaska and sales may not involve interstate commerce. Online sales are allowed. If you are mailing your homemade food items to a different part of Alaska, please review Mail Order Food Safety.

The methods and physical locations for selling homemade food products depend on whether the food is potentially hazardous or non-potentially hazardous, please see Requirements for Selling for more information.

Can a market or gift shop sell my homemade food products?

Yes, non-potentially hazardous homemade food may be sold directly to the consumer by an agent of the producer, which includes gift shops, convenience stores, grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants, food hubs, and other similar locations. Refer to Sales by an Agent of the Producer for more information. Please note that potentially hazardous homemade food may not be sold by anyone other than the producer.

Are there any requirements for retailers selling homemade foods?

Yes, please see Requirements for Selling for more information.

Can I sell my homemade food products online?

Yes, homemade food may be sold online. However, interstate commerce is not allowed so homemade food products can only be sold to consumers in Alaska. If the homemade food is potentially hazardous, the producer of the food must be the one selling it, even in an online marketplace. Food hubs are considered a third-party vendor; therefore, only food that is non-potentially hazardous may be sold via an online food hub. If you are mailing your homemade food items to a different part of Alaska, please review Mail Order Food Safety.

The farmers market where I want to sell my products says I need additional training, even though I am a homemade food producer. Can the market require training?

Yes, markets may require additional training and documentation for their vendors.

The grocery store/market where I want to sell my products says they only accept vendors that are permitted and meet all requirements of the Alaska Food Code. Can I still sell my products at these establishments?

Grocery stores and markets may choose not to accept items from unpermitted vendors.

Do I need a business license?

Yes, with some exceptions. Per AS 43.70.020(a), a business license is required for engaging in business in the State of Alaska. Contact Business Licensing for more information.

Is there a limit to how much I can sell?

There is no limit or sales cap for homemade food sales.

Will my homemade food business be covered by my home insurance?

Please direct any insurance questions to your insurance agent.

If someone complains about my product, can the Department of Environmental Conservation inspect my home kitchen?

Under AS 17.20.336, the Department retains the authority to conduct inspections and investigations into foodborne illness complaints, examine, detain, and destroy food products that are misbranded or adulterated, and impose civil fines for violations.