Infused vinegars, drinking vinegars, shrubs and dressings
≥ 4%Vinegar acidity (FDA)
GarlicAcidify before oil-based products
CottageRegistration + labels
No alcoholAlcoholic beverages barred
1What’s covered & what needs more
Covered under this path
Herb, fruit, spice and pepper-infused vinegars
Vinegar-based dressings, glazes and shrubs (no prohibited ingredients)
Vinegars used as the acid in pickling (see Canned Goods)
Needs a different path
Unacidified garlic in oil-based dressings → prohibited/needs acidification
Alcoholic beverages → cottage law prohibits; check with your health department before selling any alcohol-derived intermediate
Drinking vinegars/kombucha-type drinks → beverage rules; kombucha is prohibited
Health claims (‘cures’, ‘detox’) → supplement/drug rules
2Three steps to compliant sales
A
Confirm your base
Commercial vinegar generally needs at least 4% acidity to be labeled vinegar (FDA). Infusions with garlic or other vegetables must follow acidified-food rules.
B
Register & label
CFPM + registration, full cottage label, home-kitchen notice; herb vinegars are explicitly allowed under cottage rules or in an inspected facility.
C
Sell direct, in-state
Direct sales anywhere in Illinois — markets, online, delivery, pickup. No wholesale, no out-of-state.
3Quick-reference table
Item
Rule
Regulator
Herb & flavored vinegars
Made under cottage rules or in an inspected facility; must meet labeling requirements.
IL Farmers Market Guide
Salad dressings
Allowed if no prohibited ingredient (e.g., unacidified garlic).
IDPH
Acidified components
Final pH ≤ 4.6 with approved recipe or safety plan + lab pH test.
Local health dept
Label must-haves
Operation name + local government unit; registration # + county/municipality; common name; every ingredient (incl. sub-ingredients) by weight; federal allergen labeling (milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, soy, fish, tree nuts, shellfish, sesame); processing date (month/day/year); net weight; and the home-kitchen statement.
IDPH / local health dept
4Frequently asked
Can I make vinegar from my own wine or cider?
Ask your local health department — alcoholic beverages are barred from cottage sale, and the vinegar process should be discussed before you register.
Can I sell drinking vinegar?
It’s a beverage: bottled at home, labeled, kept ≤ 41°F; not kombucha.
Do I need a lab pH test?
Only for acidified processes involving vegetables/garlic (test valid 3 years).
Can I say it ‘cleanses’ or ‘detoxifies’?
No — health claims trigger supplement/drug rules.
Printable checklist
CFPM + registration
Label: ingredients, allergens, date, net weight, reg #
Home-kitchen notice at point of sale online
Acidify any garlic/vegetable infusions; pH ≤ 4.6 with lab test
No alcohol or kombucha
No health claims
Register with IDOR; grocery tax by delivery address
In-state sales only
Sales tax: Groceries: Illinois’ 1% state grocery tax ended Jan 1, 2026, but many cities and counties (Chicago included) now levy their own 1% local grocery tax — check the rate for each delivery address. Register with the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) through MyTax Illinois.
Selling on a marketplace: Cottage-food sales must be made by the registered operator (or a listed family member/employee) directly to the consumer, inside Illinois. Online listings work when the operator is clearly the seller and the home-kitchen notice appears at the point of sale. A platform can list and take payment, but should not take title, repack, or distribute the product.