Cottage Food Operator
Cottage Food legislation allows people to make low-risk food products in their own home kitchens and sell them directly to consumers. Under the law, people may make and sell non-potentially hazardous foods that do not require time and/or temperature control for safety.
AB1616 requires that any person who prepares or packages cottage food complete a food handler course within three months of becoming registered or permitted.
The California Department of Public Health has identified the training requirement Health and Safety Code, section 114365.2(d) to be a course four hours in length. All employees, or household members involved in preparation or packaging of cottages foods may take any of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited food handler courses, which are currently the standard for retail food facility handlers, to fulfill the food processor education requirement.
Watch Yolo County's video on proper Cottage Food preparation