The Pike County Health Department is warning home food processors that they must register with the state in order to be legally allowed to sell their products.

In a post to the department’s Facebook account, the Pike County Health Department says those preparing food from their home in Kentucky must now register with the State Food Branch in order to be legally allowed to sell. The health department also says home producers in Pike County must add a disclaimer label to their products if those products are not inspected by the health department. The label must read the following: “This product was prepared in a home kitchen without an inspection by the Pike County Health Department.”

According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services website, only the following foods may be prepared from home kitchens for retail sale:

• dried herbs

• spices


• nuts 


• candy (candy shall be produced without alcohol, and made with no bare-hand contact) 


• dried grains 


• granola that may be made with dried grains 


• trail or snack mix that may be made with dried fruit, nuts or seeds


• whole fruits and vegetables 


• dried or freeze dried fruits and vegetables 


• mixed-greens

• jams & jellies (low-acid, low-sugar, and savory jams & jellies should be approved through the UK 
Microprocessing program) 

• sweet sorghum syrup 

• maple syrup 

• preserves 

• fruit butter 

• bread 

• fruit pies 

• pecan pies

• cakes

• cookies

• popcorn that may be plain or have added seasonings.

 For more information, visit https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dphps/fsb/Pages homebasedprocessing.aspx. Information is also available by calling the Pike County Health Department, at (606) 509-5500 or (505) 564-7181.