Missouri Cottage Food Laws

Missouri is state-permissive but locally variable — St. Louis and Kansas City area health departments are stricter than rural counties.

Fast facts

Permit
No permit for most cottage foods
Annual sales cap
No limit
Online sales
Limited
Shipping
Not allowed

What makes Missouri different

  • Missouri removed its old $50,000 cap
  • No state permit for non-potentially-hazardous foods
  • Local health departments can impose additional requirements

Where you can sell in Missouri

  • Direct to consumer
  • Farmers markets
  • Home pickup
  • Events

What you can and can't make

Missouri follows the standard cottage food logic: shelf-stable items are in, anything needing refrigeration is out. Check the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services / local health product list for state-specific exceptions.

Generally allowed

  • Breads, rolls, biscuits and buns
  • Cakes, cupcakes and brownies (without cream-cheese or custard fillings)
  • Cookies, bars and biscotti
  • Fruit pies and fruit-filled pastries
  • Candy, brittle, fudge and chocolate-covered items
  • Dry mixes, granola, popcorn and roasted nuts
  • Jams, jellies and preserves made from high-acid fruit

Generally prohibited

  • Cheesecake and cream-cheese frostings or fillings
  • Custard, meringue, pudding and Bavarian-cream pies
  • Anything containing meat, poultry or seafood
  • Fresh-dairy items, ice cream and buttercream that requires refrigeration
  • Canned vegetables, salsas and other low-acid canned goods
  • Garlic-in-oil, pickled goods and fermented foods (in most states)
  • Kombucha, juices and other beverages requiring a process authority

Missouri labeling requirements

  1. The name and physical address of your home kitchen business
  2. The common name of the product
  3. A full ingredient list in descending order by weight
  4. Allergen declaration for the major allergens (milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame)
  5. Net weight or volume
  6. A cottage food disclosure such as "Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to routine state inspection"

Official source for Missouri

Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services / local health administers cottage food rules in Missouri.

Last verified:

Visit Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services / local health

Not legal advice. This summary is for general education. Confirm with Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services / local health before you start selling.

Cottage food laws in other states