How to label cottage food in New Hampshire (2026 guide)

If you sell baked goods from your home in New Hampshire, every item you sell has to be labeled correctly. New Hampshire's cottage food law — RSA §143-A:12 — is a solid, workable law, but the labeling rules are specific, and getting them wrong means you lose the protection the law gives you.

This guide walks through exactly what goes on a New Hampshire cottage food label, gives you a copy-paste template, and covers the edge cases that trip people up. It mirrors our most popular label walkthrough — how to label cottage food in Texas — adapted to New Hampshire's rules.

Not legal advice. We're a small apparel brand that cares about home bakers. For anything serious, read the law directly or call New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

What every label must include

Per New Hampshire's cottage food labeling rules, every product label must include:

1. The common or usual name of the product (e.g. “Classic Sourdough Loaf” — a brand name alone is not enough).
2. Your business (operation) name and address.
3. An ingredient list in descending order by weight (major allergens called out).
4. Net weight or volume.
5. Allergen disclosure for any of the 9 federal major allergens present.
6. The state's required disclaimer statement, verbatim (exact wording below).

What New Hampshire law actually says

All packaged homestead food products must be labeled with: name, address, and phone number of the operation; product name; ingredients in descending order by weight; allergen information. Exempt operations must also state: 'This product is exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection.' Licensed operations must state: 'This product is made in a residential kitchen licensed by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.' Net weight/volume in US customary and metric, and a product code/batch number, are also required. Label must include a 10-point font disclosure statement.

The 9 federal major allergens you must disclose

• Milk
• Eggs
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Tree nuts
• Peanuts
• Wheat
• Soy
• Sesame (added federally in 2023 — frequently missed)

You don't have to list every ingredient in most states, but you must explicitly name any of these allergens that are present. “May contain” hedging isn't a substitute — if it's in there, name it. Sesame became the 9th federal major allergen in 2023 and is the one most older label templates miss.

The required disclaimer

New Hampshire requires this statement, word for word, on the label: It must appear in at least 10-point type.

This product is exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection.

Copy-paste label template

Print it on a sticker, put it on the bag. Adjust the ingredient and allergen lines for each product.

The extra rules worth knowing

Batch numbers for canned / acidified goods

Pickles, jams, fermented items and other acidified or home-canned goods usually need a unique batch number tied to your production records, so a specific lot can be traced in a recall. Plain baked goods generally don't.

Common labeling mistakes to avoid

1. Forgetting sesame as a major allergen (added federally in 2023 — many older templates list only 8).
2. Using “may contain” when the product actually contains the allergen. Name it if it's present.
3. Leaving off the required disclaimer because you printed small business-card-style labels. The disclaimer is non-negotiable.
4. Handing out unlabeled samples. If you're giving a free taste at a market, the rules still apply.
5. Using a P.O. Box where New Hampshire requires a physical address (or use your state-issued ID number instead where allowed).

Quick checklist before you print

• Product common name (not just a brand name)
• Business name on label
• Address or state ID number on label
• All 9 major allergens disclosed if present (including sesame)
• Required disclaimer statement, verbatim
• Disclaimer in at least 10-point type
• Ingredients in descending order by weight
• Packaging prevents contamination

Official sources

• New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
• Statute: RSA §143-A:12
• State extension guidance
• Forrager — New Hampshire
• Crosodo New Hampshire state guide

For the full breakdown of New Hampshire's rules — sales cap, registration, county zoning — see the Crosodo New Hampshire state guide. If your New Hampshire county is missing from our directory, tell us and we'll add it next.