Nuts & Seeds

Raw, roasted & candied nuts and seeds

Cottage Food Eligible
0license for dry roasted nuts/seeds
Shelf-stableproduct required
No capon annual sales
IN onlydelivery/shipping

What's Covered  /  What Needs a Different Path

✓ Covered here

  • Raw and dry-roasted nuts and seeds packaged for direct sale
  • Candied or spiced nuts with shelf-stable coatings
  • Nut and seed butters that are shelf-stable (verify acidity/moisture per tested recipe)

✗ Needs a different path

  • Nut butters or pastes requiring refrigeration for safety without following Homestead Vendor TCS rules
  • Nuts packed in infused oil (see Oils category for the higher-risk rules)
  • Shipping outside Indiana under either cottage law

Three Steps to Compliance

A

Roast and package dry

Dry-roasting nuts/seeds and packaging them sealed keeps the product shelf-stable and cottage-eligible.

B

Check candy coatings

Sugar or spice coatings are fine as long as the finished product stays shelf-stable with no refrigeration requirement.

C

Label allergens prominently

Tree nuts and peanuts are top food allergens – make sure labeling clearly identifies the specific nut/seed.

Quick Reference

ItemRuleRegulator
Raw/roasted nuts & seedsCottage-eligible, no licenseIC 16-42-5.3
Candied/spiced nutsCottage-eligible if shelf-stableIC 16-42-5.3
Nut buttersVerify shelf-stability/tested recipeIC 16-42-5.4 (if TCS)
LabelingAllergen disclosure requiredISDH

Frequently Asked Questions

Do roasted almonds need a license?

No – dry-roasted nuts packaged and sold shelf-stable are a straightforward cottage food item.

What about peanut brittle?

Shelf-stable candy-coated nuts like brittle are cottage-eligible as long as they don't need refrigeration.

Is homemade almond butter cottage-eligible?

Only if it's shelf-stable by a tested recipe; if it truly requires refrigeration, it needs the Homestead Vendor TCS pathway instead.

Do I need to list allergens?

Yes – clear allergen labeling is expected on any nut or seed product given how common tree-nut and peanut allergies are.

Printable Checklist

Dry-roast and package nuts/seeds for shelf stability
Verify any coating keeps the product shelf-stable
Confirm nut butter recipes are tested for shelf life
Label allergens clearly and prominently
Add the home-produced disclaimer
Sell and ship within Indiana only