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Georgia · Direct-to-Consumer Compliance · Category 05 of 24

Canned Goods

Acidified and low-acid canned foods (pickles, salsa, canned vegetables) sold direct to consumer

Licensed Facility Required
No
Cottage Eligible
21 CFR 108/114
Federal Rule
Manufactured Food
GDA License
Registered scheduled process
Process

What's Covered / What Needs More

✓ Generally Covered

  • High-sugar jams/jellies/fruit preserves — those fall under the separate Preserves category, not here
  • Selling GDA-licensed, commercially canned pickles, salsa, and vegetables through any channel
  • Operating a small commercial cannery that has completed a Better Process Control School course
  • Wholesale and retail distribution once your process is registered with FDA

✕ Needs More / Watch Out

  • Making and selling pickles, salsa, or low-acid canned vegetables from a home kitchen under cottage food law — these are TCS/potentially hazardous and excluded
  • Skipping FDA acidified-food (21 CFR 114) or low-acid canned food (21 CFR 113) process registration for any shelf-stable canned product with a pH above the safe threshold
  • Guessing at a safe recipe — an unvalidated process risks botulism, a serious criminal and civil liability issue
  • Selling without the required GDA Manufactured Food Section license for a commercial cannery

Three Steps to Compliance

A

Understand why this isn't cottage-eligible

Canned vegetables, pickles, and salsa are potentially hazardous (TCS) unless a validated scheduled process controls pH and thermal treatment — HB 398's cottage exemption does not cover these.

B

Get process authority and complete training

Complete a Better Process Control School course and get a scheduled process reviewed by a process authority; register your process with FDA under 21 CFR 108 before commercial sale.

C

License the facility with GDA

Operate from a commercial kitchen licensed by GDA's Manufactured Food Section (not a home kitchen), and label with all required identity, ingredient, and processing information.

Quick Reference

Cottage food eligible?No — canned/pickled foods are TCS, excluded under HB 398
Federal requirement21 CFR 108/113/114 scheduled process registration with FDA
TrainingBetter Process Control School (or equivalent) recommended/expected
FacilityLicensed commercial kitchen, not a home kitchen
State licenseGDA Manufactured Food Section license
Biggest riskBotulism from an unvalidated low-acid or under-acidified process

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I can and sell pickles from my home kitchen?
No. Pickles, salsa, and canned vegetables are TCS foods excluded from Georgia's cottage food law, no matter how small your operation.
What is a 'scheduled process'?
A documented, validated recipe and thermal/acidification process reviewed by a qualified process authority and filed with FDA to ensure the product is shelf-stable and safe.
Do I need Better Process Control School?
Strongly recommended and often required by process authorities and buyers; it's the standard training for anyone canning low-acid or acidified foods commercially.
Is jam the same category as canned pickles?
No — see the separate Preserves guide; high-sugar jams and jellies are typically cottage-food eligible, while pickled/low-acid canned goods are not.

Printable Checklist

MarketStand · Georgia Producer Compliance Series
This guide is general information, not legal advice, current as of September 2026. Georgia's cottage food, meat inspection, dairy, egg, plant, feed, and alcohol rules change — always verify current requirements with the Georgia Department of Agriculture (agr.georgia.gov), Georgia Dept. of Revenue Alcohol & Tobacco Division, and your local health department before selling.
Primary sources: Georgia Dept. of Agriculture (Cottage Food, Meat Inspection, Egg Law, Live Plant Program, Feed/Pet Food Program); HB 398 (2025); Georgia Raw Dairy Act, O.C.G.A. §26-2-450 et seq.; Georgia Meat Inspection Act, O.C.G.A. §26-2-60; Georgia Food Act, O.C.G.A. §26-2-20; GA Dept. of Revenue Alcohol & Tobacco Division; FDA (DSHEA, MoCRA, FSMA Produce Safety Rule, 21 CFR 108/111/113/114).