Processing laws???
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You can definitely do it but you are “supposed” to be licensed and legal in order to sell.
I am in Minnesota but assume that most if not all states are close to, if not the same.If your going to go ‘legal’ you will have to make a commitment that doesn’t give you too many options to turn back.
If your looking at being legal you have to have your facility inspected and approved followed by getting a license. Once licensed you will need to start keeping records and have annual inspections to review all your records as well as the facility. Don’t forget that equipment, appliances, and all utensils will have to be NSF rated. The initial inspection is to make sure that you have everything.
Some of the requirements in Minnesota are:
Walls and floor need to be smooth and washable (floors need to be tile or commercial 5 mil epoxy coated applied by a licensed installer) a 3 basin sink with approved soap and sanitizer (sinks have to be labeled wash, rinse, sanitize), hand wash sink (labeled), hot water, aprons, gloves, hair nets, mop sink, cooler and freezer, your suppliers (both meat and spices) must issue a “letter of guarantee” that is posted along with your license, it’s also not legal to transport your own meat (it must be delivered in a refrigerated truck), and on and on and on…This is just the tip of the iceberg for what is involved and obviously VERY expensive. You should definitely check with your local inspectors and see what is required in your state and make your decision based on what they say.
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I am a former USDA Compliance Officer and you should contact your local health department for guidance. You cannot sell your brats to restaurants or retail stores only end users under USDA regulations
kayers69 said in Processing laws???:
I am a former USDA Compliance Officer and you should contact your local health department for guidance. You cannot sell your brats to restaurants or retail stores only end users under USDA regulations
What I posted earlier is to sell to the end user.
In order to sell your product to a “reseller” (restaurant/retail stores) gets very involved and definitely NOT the place to start.
To give you an idea:
There is an entirely new process you have to go through. Your facility will have to be inspected once again and then be issued a plant number. You will have to submit your labels for approval which will need to have EVERYTHING listed (safe handling, $/#, total weight, total, etc.), you need to develop flow charts and process charts for everything from receiving meat/spices through the final packaging process and refrigeration.The kicker to sell to a reseller is once you and your facility are approved you now must have a state inspector onsite watching the process that you submitted to the state to verify you are following your state approved process. In order to get the inspector onsite you will have to schedule it and make sure that they are available when you plan to process (keep in mind they have set hours they are available).
Inspectors are very accommodating but also very busy and overworked so you may sometimes have to alter your schedule around theirs.
Hope this helps shed a little light on what it would take to sell your product legally whether it is to the end user or a reseller.
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So you make some sausage for your friend, what is the big deal? If you start a business and start selling to the general public then you would have to jump through all of the regulations of your state. No different to me making you a loaf of bread. Just don’t get silly and put up sign, “Brats for Sale”
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If you intend to not make a profit off “selling” it to your friends, then have them buy all of the ingredients for you and they help in the making process.
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KARLHEIDOLPH Absolutely listen to kayers69 and the The Brat Barn
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kayers69 said in Processing laws???:
I am a former USDA Compliance Officer and you should contact your local health department for guidance. You cannot sell your brats to restaurants or retail stores only end users under USDA regulations
What I posted earlier is to sell to the end user.
In order to sell your product to a “reseller” (restaurant/retail stores) gets very involved and definitely NOT the place to start.
To give you an idea:
There is an entirely new process you have to go through. Your facility will have to be inspected once again and then be issued a plant number. You will have to submit your labels for approval which will need to have EVERYTHING listed (safe handling, $/#, total weight, total, etc.), you need to develop flow charts and process charts for everything from receiving meat/spices through the final packaging process and refrigeration.The kicker to sell to a reseller is once you and your facility are approved you now must have a state inspector onsite watching the process that you submitted to the state to verify you are following your state approved process. In order to get the inspector onsite you will have to schedule it and make sure that they are available when you plan to process (keep in mind they have set hours they are available).
Inspectors are very accommodating but also very busy and overworked so you may sometimes have to alter your schedule around theirs.
Hope this helps shed a little light on what it would take to sell your product legally whether it is to the end user or a reseller.
The Brat Barn Nice to see another northlander on this site. I have not tried your products yet, but have one of your flyers. Your stuff looks good
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Well thank you for all of your advice there is way more than I thought into starting a business I’m not ready to start a business for sure so I will contact someone just make sure that them donation for the spices and the price of the meat is okay I don’t make a profit off of it most are friends but they want to help with the cost for everything that goes into it
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it is nice to see someone here that can give information from a first hand professional point , on this subject where dose the farmers market items fall that people sell
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it is nice to see someone here that can give information from a first hand professional point , on this subject where dose the farmers market items fall that people sell
craigrice Many times they are items that covered by the cottage food laws of the state/county. Those vary by locale, but frequently cover baked and canned/bottled goods such as sauces that do not need to be kept chilled.
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I know where I live, if I wanted to go vend my BBQ (I looked into it) you would have to have follow the same rules/regs as food trucks, etc
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it is nice to see someone here that can give information from a first hand professional point , on this subject where dose the farmers market items fall that people sell
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All the health requirements are there because of a failure before. They are your friends but not after one gets terribly sick because a bacteria got in the mix. Be very careful
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also some people have allergy’s to certain ingredient such as msg and others
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craigrice said in Processing laws???:
also some people have allergy’s to certain ingredient such as msg and others
To your point, product labeling requirements are a huge part operating a inspected business.
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Well thank you for all of your advice there is way more than I thought into starting a business I’m not ready to start a business for sure so I will contact someone just make sure that them donation for the spices and the price of the meat is okay I don’t make a profit off of it most are friends but they want to help with the cost for everything that goes into it
KARLHEIDOLPH I’m likely to get a lot of pushback on this, but is it your intentions to make this for friends? And am I understanding that they just want to cover your cost?
I see no need to jump through all those hoops to make a few pounds of sausage for friends. If you were selling to restaurants and retailers, then yes all the advice applies.
No one is going to come after the hobbyist for making a few pounds for friends. Enjoy making it and giving a blessing to your friends. If they bless you in return with funding to cover your cost, all the better - everyone wins.
This all really depends on the scope of what you intend.
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KARLHEIDOLPH I’m likely to get a lot of pushback on this, but is it your intentions to make this for friends? And am I understanding that they just want to cover your cost?
I see no need to jump through all those hoops to make a few pounds of sausage for friends. If you were selling to restaurants and retailers, then yes all the advice applies.
No one is going to come after the hobbyist for making a few pounds for friends. Enjoy making it and giving a blessing to your friends. If they bless you in return with funding to cover your cost, all the better - everyone wins.
This all really depends on the scope of what you intend.
Chef said in Processing laws???:
KARLHEIDOLPH I’m likely to get a lot of pushback on this, but is it your intentions to make this for friends? And am I understanding that they just want to cover your cost?
I see no need to jump through all those hoops to make a few pounds of sausage for friends. If you were selling to restaurants and retailers, then yes all the advice applies.
No one is going to come after the hobbyist for making a few pounds for friends. Enjoy making it and giving a blessing to your friends. If they bless you in return with funding to cover your cost, all the better - everyone wins.
This all really depends on the scope of what you intend.
I agree.
If just making it for friends and family from time to time and not technically “selling” I don’t see any reason why you would ever get a visit from a compliance officer.BUT!
As stated by someone earlier being the cause somebody get sick from a product you made is definitely not a path you want to go down so regardless which way you decide to go MAKE SURE that you follow ALL of the guidelines set forth by the USDA!The guidelines are there to keep everybody safe and healthy so every home processor even those that are only making it for themselves should know what they are and follow them.
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Just remember until recently, the USDA recommended pork internal temperature cooked to 160. Was dry as a bone and I knew no chef that would do that to a good cut of meat. More important to understand the biochemistry involved or get advice from someone that does.
I would think we could all understand that the government doesn’t always have our interest at heart. Lobbyists and self-serving interest is always a factor. Money being the name of the game. For instants - gloves. With gloves a person is much more likely to cross contaminate, where as without gloves more likely to wash their hands between task. Latex and vinyl industry lobbied to make gloves mandatory. A good health inspector will look at kitchen practices rather than nick-pick laws.
Be safe but have fun.
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Just remember until recently, the USDA recommended pork internal temperature cooked to 160. Was dry as a bone and I knew no chef that would do that to a good cut of meat. More important to understand the biochemistry involved or get advice from someone that does.
I would think we could all understand that the government doesn’t always have our interest at heart. Lobbyists and self-serving interest is always a factor. Money being the name of the game. For instants - gloves. With gloves a person is much more likely to cross contaminate, where as without gloves more likely to wash their hands between task. Latex and vinyl industry lobbied to make gloves mandatory. A good health inspector will look at kitchen practices rather than nick-pick laws.
Be safe but have fun.
Chef I couldn’t agree with you more about the gloves.
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