Food and Drug Branch (FDB)

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Contact Us

Main Telephone:

(800) 495-3232

Email:

FDBRetail@cdph.ca.gov

Address (Courier Delivery):

California Department of Public Health - Food and Drug Branch

1500 Capitol Ave, MS 7602

Sacramento, CA 95814

Address (Non-Courier Delivery):

California Department of Public Health - Food and Drug Branch

P.O. Box 997435, MS 7602

Sacramento, CA 95899

Cottage Food Operations

Assembly Bill (AB) 1616 authored by Assemblyman Gatto, Chapter 415, Statutes of 2012, was signed into law by Governor Brown on September 21, 2012; effective January 1, 2013. The bill allows individuals to prepare and/or package certain non-potentially hazardous foods in private-home kitchens referred to as “cottage food operations” (CFOs).

All CFOs have to meet specified requirements pursuant to the California Health and Safety Code related to:

Preparing foods that are on the approved food list
Completing a food processor training course within three months of registering
Implementing sanitary operations
Establishing state and federal compliant labels
Operating within established gross annual sales limits

Learn more about the State's requirements for cottage foods from the links provided below.

FDB Cottage Food Operations is in the process of migrating to a new email address. Please submit all cottage food questions and issues to FDBRetail@cdph.ca.gov.