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Tennessee Cottage Food Laws
TNQuick Summary
Food freedom law allows broad home food sales.
Summary
Tennessee’s Food Freedom Act broadly exempts foods produced in a home-based kitchen in accordance with the Act from state licensing, permitting, inspecting, packaging, and labeling laws, subject to the Act and related limitations.
Quick Facts
General Allowed Food Definition
Foods that do not require refrigeration and are considered shelf-stable under normal conditions.
Foods that are not time or temperature controlled for safety (non-TCS foods).
Examples typically include baked goods, candies, dry goods, and similar shelf-stable products.
Review the official state source for the exact definition, restrictions, and excluded foods.
Sales Types
Sales as allowed under the Tennessee Food Freedom Act.
Getting Started
What You Should Do First
Review the Tennessee Food Freedom Act page, confirm your product is covered by the Act, and verify whether you are operating under the Food Freedom Act or a separate domestic kitchen pathway before selling.
Common Issues
Tennessee has more than one pathway for home-based food activity. Operators should distinguish between the Food Freedom Act and domestic kitchen licensing.
Reproducibility Note
Initial source-first import using official state source.
Labeling
Tennessee’s official Food Freedom Act page states that foods produced in compliance with the Act are generally exempt from state packaging and labeling laws.
Required Label Items
Follow the Tennessee Food Freedom Act and any applicable consumer-information requirements under current law
Allergen Statement Required
Varies
Labeling Notes
Confirm first whether the business is operating under the Food Freedom Act or under a separately permitted domestic kitchen model.
Official Source
Example Label
Source: Tennessee Department of Agriculture – Tennessee Food Freedom Act
Last Reviewed: 2026-04-18 00:18:01
Source Checked: 2026-04-18 00:18:01
