What Food Can I Sell From Home in Indiana?
Whether your recipe is legal to sell from home in Indiana comes down to one scientific question: does it need temperature control to stay safe? The answer depends on which regulatory framework applies — and that changed on July 1, 2026.
Allowed Under the HBV Law (Through June 30, 2026)
Under IC 16-42-5.3, home-based vendors can sell only non-TCS (non-time/temperature-controlled-for-safety) foods. These are products whose natural properties — low water activity, high acidity, or low moisture — prevent dangerous bacterial growth at room temperature.
Permitted:
- Baked goods: cookies, brownies, breads, muffins, fruit pies, dry cakes, biscotti
- Candy and confections: fudge, caramels, toffee, chocolate bark
- Pure honey and maple syrup
- High-acid, full-sugar jams and jellies
- Dry herbs and spice blends
- Dry noodles and pasta
- Popcorn, granola, trail mix, roasted nuts
Prohibited:
- Cheesecakes and cream-filled pastries
- Custard pies and pumpkin pies
- Cream cheese or whipped cream frostings
- Fresh salsa and fresh sauces
- Pickled vegetables
- Fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha)
- Anything containing meat, poultry, or fish
- Fresh fruit or vegetable juices
- Prepared meals (casseroles, soups, sandwiches)
The Gray Zone: Borderline Products
Some products sit right on the line. Low-sugar jams, custom frostings, flavored oils, and dehydrated fruits may or may not qualify depending on their exact formulation. The key measurements:
- Water activity (a_w): Must be below 0.85
- pH: Must be below 4.6
If your product hits both thresholds, it was non-TCS under the HBV rules. If either exceeds the threshold, it was classified as TCS and was banned from home sale under those rules.
Purdue University Food Science Department provides laboratory testing for water activity and pH. Get your borderline recipes tested before you sell — health departments will demand a certified process authority report if they receive a consumer complaint.
What Changed on July 1, 2026 (Homestead Law)
HEA 1424 rewrote the product restrictions. Qualifying homestead vendors (gross annual sales under $1.5 million) can sell:
Newly permitted:
- Prepared meals — casseroles, soups, meat pies, pasta dishes
- Perishable baked goods — cream-filled pastries, custard pies, cheesecakes
- Fermented foods — sauerkraut, kimchi
- Meat products — from livestock raised on the vendor's property, processed at a BOAH or USDA inspected facility
Still prohibited under any framework:
- Products containing purchased, commercially sourced meat (you must raise the animal yourself)
- Wholesale products (anything sold to grocery stores, restaurants, or out of state)
- Out-of-state shipments
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A Side-by-Side Comparison
| Food Item | Former HBV | 2026 Homestead |
|---|---|---|
| Cookies and brownies | Allowed | Allowed |
| Fruit pies | Allowed | Allowed |
| Honey and maple syrup | Allowed | Allowed |
| High-sugar jams | Allowed | Allowed |
| Cream cheese cake | Prohibited | Allowed |
| Fresh salsa | Prohibited | Allowed |
| Homemade jerky (own livestock) | Prohibited | Allowed |
| Casseroles and prepared meals | Prohibited | Allowed |
| Products with store-bought meat | Prohibited | Prohibited |
The distinction matters for business planning. If your signature product is a perishable item like cheesecake or a meat-based product, the 2026 law has opened a door that was locked under HBV rules.
The full allowed-foods decision tree, with recipe testing guidance and labeling requirements for each product type, is in the Indiana Cottage Food & Home Food Business Guide.
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