Minnesota direct-to-consumer guide, 2026
Oils
Culinary oils pressed and sold in sealed bottles.
Cottage Food Eligible (Plain Oils)What is covered and what needs a different path
What’s covered
- Plain pressed culinary oils with no water-based ingredients
- Oils with dry spices in shelf-stable form, documented
- Sales in person at home, markets, and events
Needs a different path
- Oils infused with fresh garlic, herbs, or peppers (botulism risk)
- Skin or hair oils (Body Care guide)
- Mailed orders, wholesale, or sales over $78,000
Three compliance steps
Keep oils plain and dry
Plain oils are shelf stable. Any water-containing infusion is potentially hazardous and needs a licensed process.
Register with MDA
Register every year before selling. Sales of $7,665 or less: free Tier 1 with a yearly MDA training and exam. $7,666 to $78,000: $50 and an approved course every three years. The registration year runs April 1 to March 31.
Label it, post the sign, sell in person
Label each package with your name or business name, address or registration number, date produced, ingredients with allergens, and “These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection.” Post the same statement on a sign or your website. You or an employee must be present at the sale or delivery.
Quick reference
| Item | Rule | Regulator |
|---|---|---|
| Sales cap | $78,000 gross per calendar year per registered person | MDA |
| Registration | Tier 1 free ($7,665 or less); Tier 2 $50 per year | MDA |
| Label | Name, address or reg. number, date, ingredients, allergens, homemade statement | MDA |
| Shipping | Human food may not be shipped now; MDA says allowed from Aug 1, 2027 | MDA |
| Infused oils | Not cottage eligible if potentially hazardous | MDA |
| Allergens | Cold-pressed peanut, tree nut, and sesame oils must declare the allergen | FDA |
| Sales tax | Edible oils are exempt food | MN Revenue |
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I infuse garlic?
Fresh garlic in oil can grow botulism toxin; it is potentially hazardous and outside the cottage law.
Do refined oils need allergen labels?
Highly refined oils are excluded from allergen labeling federally, but cold-pressed oils are not.
Can I press oil for others?
Custom pressing for customers who own the seed is a service; sale of finished oil is the cottage product.
Printable checklist
- Register or renew (April 1 to March 31 year)
- Finish the Tier 1 exam or Tier 2 course
- Post the homemade sign and web statement
- Track gross sales against $7,665 and $78,000
- Check city or township rules on home sales
- No fresh garlic, herb, or pepper infusions
- Allergen on cold-pressed nut or seed oils
Infusion safety and allergen points follow FDA guidance; no oil-specific Minnesota page was found.