All Maine guides
Home Food License

Canned Goods

Jams, pickles, sauces and canned vegetables. Selling direct to consumers in Maine.

Home licenseShelf-stable foods
Low-acidNeeds process authority
Acidified foodspH control required
LabelFull label

What is covered

Covered by this path

  • Jams and jellies
  • Properly acidified pickles
  • Tested high-acid sauces

Needs a different path

  • Low-acid vegetables without commercial process review
  • Foods lacking a tested recipe
  • Anything needing refrigeration

Three compliance steps

A

Get the right license

A Home Food license authorizes specific shelf-stable foods listed on it.

B

Use a tested process

Low-acid and acidified foods need a scheduled process from a process authority.

C

Label fully

Include ingredients, net quantity, your name and address, and allergens.

Quick reference

ItemRuleRegulator
Shelf-stable canned itemsHome Food Processing licenseDACF QA&R
Acidified/low-acidScheduled process; FDA 21 CFR 114 / 113 for commercialFDA
Market saleMobile Vendor licenseDACF QA&R

Frequently asked

Can I sell canned green beans?

Only with process-authority approval and the correct license.

Printable checklist

License lists my product
Recipe tested
pH log kept
Labels printed
Mobile vendor license