Guide · Labeling
Cottage food labeling requirements in Massachusetts
Informational only, not legal advice.
Massachusetts's cited rules list 7 labeling requirements for cottage food:
- Products must be sold prepackaged with an ingredient label, printed in English
- Name and address of the Cottage Food Operation
- Name of the cottage food product
- Ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight, including sub-ingredients of any prepared ingredient (e.g., "soy sauce (wheat, soybeans, salt)")
- Net weight or net volume
- Allergen information as specified by federal labeling requirements
- Nutrition labeling as specified by federal requirements, if any nutrient content claim, health claim, or other nutrition information is given
Source: MDPH — Retail Food Code Standards for Permitted Residential Kitchens (Updated April 2019) (Labeling) · Verified Oct 21, 2026
The product doesn't need lab analysis to get an ingredient list. The April 2019 guidance lists the allergen groups as milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, fish (including shellfish, crab, lobster, or shrimp), and tree nuts.
Source: MDPH — Retail Food Code Standards for Permitted Residential Kitchens (Updated April 2019) (Labeling) · Verified Oct 21, 2026
Massachusetts label questions
What statement has to be printed on a Massachusetts cottage food label?
Ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight, including sub-ingredients of any prepared ingredient (e.g., "soy sauce (wheat, soybeans, salt)")
Source: MDPH — Retail Food Code Standards for Permitted Residential Kitchens (Updated April 2019) (Labeling) · Verified Oct 21, 2026
Does a Massachusetts cottage food label need allergen information?
Allergen information as specified by federal labeling requirements
Source: MDPH — Retail Food Code Standards for Permitted Residential Kitchens (Updated April 2019) (Labeling) · Verified Oct 21, 2026
Do Massachusetts cottage foods need a nutrition facts panel?
Nutrition labeling as specified by federal requirements, if any nutrient content claim, health claim, or other nutrition information is given
Source: MDPH — Retail Food Code Standards for Permitted Residential Kitchens (Updated April 2019) (Labeling) · Verified Oct 21, 2026