HB31 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jamie KielRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Cottage food production operations, baked goods and roasted coffees, exempt from obtaining food service permit from health department, labeling of baked goods, other food items, food safety course required, Sec. 22-20-5.1 am'd.

Summary

HB 31 extends cottage food protections to home-based roasted coffee producers and adds labeling and education requirements for cottage foods.

What This Bill Does

It adds roasted coffee to the foods treated as cottage foods produced at home without requiring a health department food service permit. It keeps cottage food operations exempt from being food service establishments, but sets a $20,000 annual sales cap with direct-to-consumer sales only. It requires labeling of all listed foods, including roasted coffee, and completion of a department-approved food safety course, with the label stating the operator’s name and address and that the food is not inspected. It also bans Internet sales and grants health departments authority to issue stop-sale actions if a foodborne illness is suspected.

Who It Affects

• In-home cottage food operators who sell baked goods, jams/jellies, candies, dried herbs/herb mixes, and now roasted coffee directly to consumers and with annual sales of $20,000 or less; they must label products and complete a food safety course.
• State Department of Public Health and county health departments, whose regulatory reach over cottage foods is limited to the provisions in this section and who may issue stop-sale/hold orders for foods suspected of causing illness.

Key Provisions

• A cottage food production operation is not a food service establishment and does not require a food service permit.
• The operation may include roasted coffee in its allowed products and must meet the $20,000 annual gross income cap and sell directly to consumers.
• The department must require labeling of baked goods, jams/jellies, candies, roasted coffees, and dried herbs/herb mixes, plus completion of a department-approved food safety course; labels must include name and address and a statement that the food is not inspected.
• Operators must maintain certification of having attended and passed a department-approved food safety course.
• The department may issue stop sale, seize, or hold orders for foods suspected of causing a foodborne illness.
• Cottage foods may not be sold over the Internet.
• Health departments may regulate cottage foods only to the extent provided in this section.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after its passage/approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health