Since April this year (2024), Food Microbiology Academy has had a trusted collaborative partnership with FoodSafePal in the United States. This means we are able to offer food safety training that is accepted right across the US, through FoodSafePal, our endorsed provider of food handling training cards in the US. As a continued benefit to our Food Microbiology Academy community, if you register for food safety training with FoodSafePal, you will score a discount. Just enter foodsafety1 as the discount coupon code, and you are good t go with the discount. Many thanks to Gavin for much support, which includes sharing blog articles that originally appeared on the FoodSafePal website, such as this one (originally published on 5 May 2024), detailing how to legally be a cottage food operator in the US state of Iowa.
People nationwide are making food at home to sell in their communities.
This homemade or “cottage food” industry is growing in popularity as consumers take a greater interest in where their food comes from and how it’s made.
Each state has specific guidelines related to the sale of homemade foods, including guidelines related to food safety training.
This article discusses the Iowa cottage food law, and whether you need food safety training to sell homemade food.
Cottage foods vs. home food processing establishments
Iowa has two regulatory categories for homemade foods — cottage foods and home food processing establishment (HFPE).
Cottage foods include most foods those that don’t require time or temperature controls to keep them safe, provided they meet certain labeling requirements.
You don’t need a license to sell cottage foods in Iowa, but you must sell directly to consumers or, if owned by the producer, at a temporary food establishment.
Conversely, to sell foods as an HFPE, you need a license through the Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals (DIA), which replaces the home bakery license and adds the ability to make, package, and process additional food products.
Here’s a quick overview of the food varieties you can sell as cottage food or as an HFPE (1):
| Food | Iowa Cottage Food | HFPE |
|---|---|---|
| Shelf-stable food | Yes | Yes |
| Refrigerated baked goods | No | Yes |
| Certain meats and poultry products | No | Yes |
| Acidified or pickled foods | Yes | No |
| Low-acid canned goods | No | No |
| Fermented foods | No | Yes |
Iowa Cottage Foods vs. HFPE
The state allows you to determine which category you fit into based on the food you sell.
In some instances, you might sell some food that falls under the cottage food law, and others that fall under the HFPE law, but you must keep your records and sales separate.
Summary
Iowa allows you to sell cottage foods without a license, but you need one to sell as an HFPE. Iowa allows you to choose which regulation you fit into based on what you sell.
Do you need food safety training to sell homemade foods in Iowa?
Unsafe food handling by food workers is a leading cause of contamination and consequently foodborne illnesses.
Any food can become contaminated but foods that require time and temperature controls such as dairy products, meats, poultry, seafood, and cut vegetables and fruits are especially prone to contamination since they may carry disease-causing organisms called pathogens like bacteria.
As such, many states and food establishments require food safety training — also known as food handle training — for food workers so they have the knowledge necessary to handle food safely.
While Iowa doesn’t require food safety training to sell cottage foods, you must before you sell foods as an HFPE.
This is because with an HFPE license you can sell more types of foods — specifically those that require time and temperature controls — that are prone to contamination.
Therefore, it’s important to know how to handle them safely to keep your customers safe but also to prevent lawsuits in the event your food made people sick.
Iowa accepts ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB)-accredited food handler training like FoodSafePal’s to meet the training requirements for HFPEs.
Earn Your Food Handlers Card + Certificate to Sell Homemade Foods
Accredited & Meets Iowa’s HFPE Law
ENROLL NOW – use the code foodsafety1 for a discount!
FoodSafePal’s food handler training is completely online, and you can learn and test in under two hours.
After you pass, you can download or print your certificate and include it in your application for an HFPE license.
Summary
You need food safety training to obtain an HFPE license, but not if you plan to sell food under the Iowa cottage food law. Iowa accepts ANAB-accredited food handler training to meet this requirement.
The bottom line
Iowa classifies homemade food into cottage foods and HFPE foods, with different regulations for each.
If you sell foods as an HFPE, Iowa requires that you receive food safety training, among other requirements, to obtain a license.
To meet this training requirement, Iowa accepts ANAB-accredited food handler training programs, like the one offered by FoodSafePal.
Earn Your Food Handlers Card + Certificate to Sell Homemade Foods
Accredited & Meets Iowa’s HFPE Law
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