FoodNutritionLabelMaker.com
VANo State Permit RequiredDirect-to-Consumer Only

Virginia Cottage Food Label Requirements

Governing Law: Virginia Home Food Processing Exemption (Va. Code § 3.2-5130) · Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)

Everything required to package and label shelf-stable home-produced foods in Virginia — including the exact mandatory disclaimer, descending ingredient order, Top 9 FASTER Act allergen declaration, and optional 21 CFR 101.9 Nutrition Facts compliance.

Launch Studio Pre-Filled for VirginiaInspect Free K-100 Print Sample (PDF)

Annual Gross Sales Cap

No general statutory cap (specific sub-caps apply to certain acidified/fermented categories)

Permit & Training Status

No VDACS permit required for qualifying exempt direct-to-consumer sales (wholesale requires a VDACS inspected kitchen permit).

Nutrition Facts Trigger

Triggered by any nutrient content/health claim on packaging or marketing.

VA Required Home-Kitchen Statement

Mandatory Virginia Cottage Food Disclaimer Text

“NOT FOR RESALE — PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION.”

Typography & Placement Rule: Must be prominently displayed on the principal display panel; include date processed for exempted acidified/honey items where applicable.

Verify Local County & State Updates: State cottage food caps, allowed food lists, and local county/municipal zoning or Board of Health ordinances change regularly. Verify exact label wording and current annual gross sales thresholds with your state Department of Agriculture / Health and local county health authority prior to commercial printing.

Virginia 6-Point Pre-Print Compliance Checklist

Verify every required label component before exporting your vector print file.

Audit Score

0/6

Auto-Fill Ready: Launch our Label Studio with Virginia’s home-kitchen statement pre-loaded alongside automatic USDA macros and Top 9 allergen auditing.
Launch Studio Pre-Filled for Virginia

Required Label Elements in Virginia

Every retail cottage food package in Virginia should display these standardized components clearly on the label.

Product Identity (Common Name)
Common or usual name of the food clearly stated on the principal display panel (e.g., "Artisan Honey Almond Granola").
Business Name & Physical Address
Name and street address (or city/state/ZIP if listed in a public directory under FDA 21 CFR 101.5) of the cottage food producer.
Net Weight / Volume Declaration
Net quantity of contents in both U.S. customary (oz / lb / fl oz) and metric (g / ml) units placed in the bottom 30% of the front panel.
Ingredients Descending by Weight
All ingredients and sub-ingredients declared in descending order of predominance by raw formula weight before baking/moisture loss.
Top 9 Major Allergens (FALCPA + FASTER Act)
Explicitly declare Milk, Eggs, Fish, Crustacean Shellfish, Tree Nuts (specific species), Peanuts, Wheat, Soybeans, and Sesame (mandatory nationwide since Jan 2023).
Virginia Home-Kitchen Disclaimer
Exact prominent statement: "NOT FOR RESALE — PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION." plus producer name, address, date (if required), ingredients, net weight, and Top 9 allergens.
Nutrition Facts Panel Trigger
Triggered by any nutrient claim or once sales require 21 CFR 101.9 compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions: Virginia Cottage Food Labeling

Can Virginia home-kitchen producers sell at retail grocery stores without inspection?

No. The uninspected exemption only covers direct-to-consumer sales at the home, farmers markets, or direct events and requires the "NOT FOR RESALE" label statement. Wholesale requires a VDACS inspection.

Does Virginia allow homemade pickles or acidified foods under the exemption?

Virginia allows certain home-processed pickles and acidified vegetables (pH ≤ 4.6) under specific statutory conditions, often requiring an equilibrium pH notice and/or annual gross sales thresholds — verify exact rules with VDACS.

Explore Other State Cottage Food Label Guides

Compare mandatory home-kitchen disclaimers and sales limits across all 15 covered states.

All 15 States Hub
CaliforniaCATexasTXFloridaFLNew YorkNYOhioOHMichiganMIIllinoisILPennsylvaniaPAGeorgiaGAWashingtonWANorth CarolinaNCArizonaAZColoradoCOMassachusettsMA