Guide · Labeling
Cottage food labeling requirements in Wisconsin
Informational only, not legal advice.
Wisconsin's cited rules list 6 labeling requirements for cottage food:
- Home-canned foods: sign at the point of sale stating "These canned goods are homemade and not subject to state inspection."
- Home-canned foods, on each container: name and address of the person who did the canning
- Home-canned foods, on each container: date of canning
- Home-canned foods, on each container: "This product was made in a private home not subject to state licensing or inspection."
- Home-canned foods, on each container: all ingredients in descending order of prominence, including the common name of any ingredient from milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, or sesame
- Honey: general food label requirements, plus "Ungraded" if not graded (or the grade, and color for Wisconsin No. 1)
Source: DATCP — Home-Canned Foods · Verified Oct 21, 2026
DATCP's homemade baked goods page and flyer state no labeling requirements for home bakers. The canned-food sign and label wording is in Wis. Stat. § 97.29(2)(b)2.d.–e.; the statute's allergen list (milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans) does not include sesame, which DATCP's page adds. Honey labeling from DATCP's Honey and Honey Products page.
Source: DATCP — Home-Canned Foods · Verified Oct 21, 2026
Wisconsin label questions
What statement has to be printed on a Wisconsin cottage food label?
Home-canned foods: sign at the point of sale stating "These canned goods are homemade and not subject to state inspection."
Source: DATCP — Home-Canned Foods · Verified Oct 21, 2026
Home-canned foods, on each container: "This product was made in a private home not subject to state licensing or inspection."
Source: DATCP — Home-Canned Foods · Verified Oct 21, 2026
Honey: general food label requirements, plus "Ungraded" if not graded (or the grade, and color for Wisconsin No. 1)
Source: DATCP — Home-Canned Foods · Verified Oct 21, 2026
Can I use a sign instead of a label in Wisconsin?
Home-canned foods: sign at the point of sale stating "These canned goods are homemade and not subject to state inspection."
Source: DATCP — Home-Canned Foods · Verified Oct 21, 2026
Label rules for specific foods in Wisconsin
Honey
- Honey: general food label requirements, plus "Ungraded" if not graded (or the grade, and color for Wisconsin No. 1)
Source: DATCP — Home-Canned Foods · Verified Oct 21, 2026