Pennsylvania Cottage Food Label Requirements
Selling homemade food in Pennsylvania? Your package label has to carry a specific set of items — including Pennsylvania’s required home-kitchen statement. Here’s exactly what goes on the label, and a free tool that builds it from your recipe.
Labeling in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania does not prescribe a fixed home-kitchen sentence — check the required label elements below.
Reference: PA Dept. of Agriculture, Limited Food Establishment Application Packet, item 10 (verbatim): "Products must be properly labeled as follows (with some labeling exemptions for baked goods): *Name of product *Name and address of manufacturer *Ingredients listed in decreasing order by weight *Allergen declaration if needed *Net weight or unit count." URL official text ↗
What your Pennsylvania cottage food label must include
- ✓The common or usual name of the product
- ✓Net quantity (weight or volume) — in US customary and metric
- ✓The ingredient list, in descending order by weight
- ✓An allergen “Contains” statement (FDA major allergens present)
- ✓Your name and business address
Generate your Pennsylvania label free
Enter your recipe once — MakeFoodLabel builds the whole label (ingredient list, allergen “Contains” line, net weight, and the Pennsylvania home-kitchen statement) plus the FDA nutrition table if you need it. Free with a watermark; $29 once to remove it, unlimited labels.
Make my Pennsylvania label →Common questions
What must a cottage food label include in Pennsylvania?
A Pennsylvania cottage food label generally needs the product name, net weight, the full ingredient list in descending order by weight, an allergen statement, your business name and address, and any home-kitchen statement your authority requires. Rules can vary by food type and sales channel — confirm with your state authority.
Do I need a Nutrition Facts panel to sell cottage food in Pennsylvania?
Usually not, unless you make a nutrient claim (like “low sugar”) or exceed your state’s cottage food limits. Many sellers add one anyway because stores and customers ask for it. MakeFoodLabel generates the FDA panel from your recipe if you need it.
Where does the “not inspected / home kitchen” wording come from?
From Pennsylvania’s cottage food law — PA Dept. of Agriculture, Limited Food Establishment Application Packet, item 10 (verbatim): "Products must be properly labeled as follows (with some labeling exemptions for baked goods): *Name of product *Name and address of manufacturer *Ingredients listed in decreasing order by weight *Allergen declaration if needed *Net weight or unit count." URL. Cottage food law changes often, so verify the current wording with your authority before printing.
This page is an estimation aid, not legal advice. Cottage food rules vary by state and change often; whether you need a nutrition panel, the exact disclaimer wording, sales limits and permitted foods all depend on your situation. Confirm current requirements with the Pennsylvania authority before selling.