Governor Mikie Sherrill • Lt. Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell

Cottage Food

Healthy New Jersey

Labeling

Labeling

Every cottage food product you sell must have a label. This page explains what's required, shows a sample label, and covers the mistakes that most often get labels rejected.

 

Label Requirements

Your label or tags must include all six of the following:

  1. The common name of the product. For example, "Oatmeal Raisin Cookies."
  2. The ingredients, listed from most to least by weight. The ingredient you use the most goes first; the one you use the least goes last.
  3. If the product contains a major food allergen, the word "Contains" followed by the allergen(s). For example, "Contains: milk, wheat, eggs." The major allergens are eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.
  4. Your full name, your business name, and your Cottage Food Operator (CFO) Permit number. Your name is required even if you also include a business name. A business name alone is not enough.
  5. The municipality where you prepare the food, followed by "New Jersey" or "NJ." This must be the same municipality you have on file with the Department as your registered residence kitchen where you prepare Cottage Food products.
  6. This exact statement, word for word, with nothing added, removed, or changed: "This food is prepared pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Department of Health."

Required by N.J.A.C. 8:24-11.4(c).

Example Label

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Ingredients: Flour, oats, brown sugar, raisins, walnuts, almonds, eggs, butter, vanilla extract, spices
Contains: milk, wheat, tree nuts (walnuts, almonds), and eggs
John Doe, XYZ Company    Bakersfield, NJ
CFO#7600010
This food is prepared pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Department of Health.

 

Common Label Mistakes

  • Using only a business name, not a full personal name. Your full personal name is always required as the holder of the Cottage Food Operator permit. A business name by itself is not enough. (N.J.A.C. 8:24-11.4(c)4)
  • Changing the required statement in any way. Print it exactly as shown above, with no changes. Altering it in any way will cause your label to be rejected.
  • Listing the wrong municipality. Use the municipality you have on file with the Department as your registered residence kitchen where you prepare Cottage Food products, followed by "New Jersey" or "NJ", "Bakersfield, NJ."
  • Leaving off the CFO# entirely. Your issued CFO# must be printed on the label. If you don't have one yet, write "CFO#_____ (pending)" to show where it will go once it's issued.
  • Missing or incomplete allergens. State on the label if your product contains any of the major allergens: eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, or wheat. Check every ingredient you use, not just the obvious ones.