Kansas City Residents Urged to Follow Cottage Food Laws This Holiday Season

Kansas City’s Homemade Meal Dilemma: What You Should Know Before Cooking Up a Storm!

The holidays are just around the corner in Kansas City, and you know what that means – it’s time for some delicious, homemade meals! Whether you’re gearing up for a grand Thanksgiving feast or prepping for winter holiday celebrations, the aroma of casseroles, stews, and soups are already wafting through the kitchens of many Kansas Citians. But hold on a minute! Before you whip up those family recipes to share with the community, there are some important rules to keep in mind, thanks to Missouri’s cottage food laws.

Your Homemade Meals, Your Gift

Kansas City residents are allowed to share their culinary creations, but there’s a twist! While you can sell or give away a handful of foods made at home, selling or serving hot food to the public is a no-go unless it’s prepared in a commercial kitchen. Why, you ask? Well, it’s all about safety. According to April Leonard, a spokesperson for Kansas City, hot food is classified as “potentially hazardous,” and so they want to ensure that what’s served up is safe to eat.

Leonard explains, “Only non-potentially hazardous food items can be prepared in a home kitchen and served to the public.” In simpler terms, that means your grandma’s famous chili or hearty stew can’t be handed out on a community plate in the local park.

What’s on the Safe List?

So, what can you whip up from your cozy home kitchen without running into trouble? Here’s a quick rundown of non-potentially hazardous foods you can prepare and share:

• Baked goods like cookies, bread, and fruit pies
• Shelf-stable goods including jams, jellies, and honey
• Cracked nuts (because who doesn’t love a good snack!)
• Packaged spices and mixes
• Dry cookie, cake, bread, and soup mixes

Because of these guidelines, you might see lots of talented home bakers at farmer’s markets, but it might be rare to spot someone dishing out a steaming bowl of chili. The law requires that if you plan to sell or distribute these homemade treats, you’ll also need to label them properly. Each item must include the name of the food, its weight, ingredients used, and a statement that it was made in a kitchen not inspected by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

What About Sharing Hot Meals?

Feeling bummed that your hot dish can’t be shared? Don’t worry; there’s still plenty of ways to get involved! Several organizations around Kansas City are set up to legally serve hot meals to the community because they have access to commercial kitchens. This means you can still share the love of good cooking with people who need it!

• The Nourish KC Community Kitchen – Offering hot lunches every Monday through Friday at 750 Paseo.
• St. Mary’s Food Kitchen – Serving hot lunches year-round at 645 Nebraska Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas.
• Morning Glory Ministries – Dishing out breakfast six days a week at 416 W. 12th Street.
• Food Not Bombs KC – Providing hot vegan meals every Sunday at Independence and Monroe.
• Center of Grace – Preparing hot dinners on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 520 S. Harrison in Olathe.

Get Involved!

If you’re eager to serve or cook hot meals to those in need, consider reaching out to one of these organizations. They make it easier for you to get involved with your community while ensuring that your delicious meals are prepared safely!

Have more questions about volunteer opportunities in Missouri or Kansas? Don’t hesitate to ask! Whether you want to cook, serve, or just learn more about the regulations, there’s always a way to spread joy through good food!

So as the holiday season approaches, let’s make sure we’re cooking up kindness—while keeping those important food laws in mind. Happy cooking, Kansas City!