LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) – One of the more than 800 laws that took effect Sept. 1, is the Texas Food Freedom Act. The new Texas Cottage Food Law with a list of changes. The changes aim to give home-based businesses more freedom.
Melissa Modesette is part owner of the Love and Butter Baking Company. The “Love” is for Jesus, and the “Butter” is for their baked goods. She sells eggs and other products while her sister and co-owner focuses on the sweets.
“We have all kinds of baked good including breads, cookies, cakes and banana puddings,” Modesette said.
The banana pudding is new to the menu. It falls under a new list of permitted temperature-controlled items under the new law.
“If you’re walking through the market and someone’s like I just want something to snack on, you got the spoon, the napkin and the treat,” Modesette said.
She said the new rules took some getting used to. Their biggest hurdle was changing the labels to clearly list allergens. Where before, all they had to say was that it may contain a certain ingredient.
“A lot of us have premade stickers that go on our things, and we had to start all over again but it was easy,” Modesette said.
Tracey Duprie is waiting to change her labels. She owns Duprie Farms and sells backed goods and canned foods. She has the allergens on her labels but has not yet registered with the Texas Department of State Health Services to remove her address.
“Once these labels are done and I’ve gone through everything in stock then we’ll make the change,” Duprie said.
They also had to make it clear that their products were made at home using this statement:
“This product was produced in a private residence that is not subject to governmental licensing or inspection.”
The new law tripled the annual sales cap from $50,000 to $150,000, expanded the list of foods, and allows food samples without a permit.
Both Duprie and Modesette follow the cottage food laws closely and agree it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the public’s health.
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