Cottage Food

Background of Program

Cottage food operations are allowed to produce certain non-potentially hazardous foods. These are foods that do not support the rapid growth of bacteria that would make people sick when held outside of refrigeration temperatures. The list of approved cottage food categories and their ethnic variations, which cottage food operations are allowed to produce, can be found here. The list will be maintained and updated by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on its Internet website as necessary. CDPH may add to or delete food products from the approved products list. Notice of any change, reason for the change, the authority for the change, and the nature of the change to the approved food products list will be posted on the CDPH website and shall be become effective thirty (30) days after the notice is posted.

For more information regarding the Cottage Food Industry, please contact Neighborhood Improvement at (714) 741-5135.