1. Minnesota Department of Agriculture
  2. Food, Feed
  3. Resources for New Food Businesses
  4. Food Licensing Liaison Request

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) helps ensure the safety of the food supply by licensing and inspecting food producers, distributors, and certain retail food establishments in Minnesota. Examples of food businesses licensed by MDA include food manufacturers, storage warehouses, grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, meat processors, retail meat markets/in-store delis, vending machines, and permanent and mobile businesses that primarily sell prepackaged foods, baked goods, candies, shaved ice, popcorn, or nuts. We would like to help answer your food business questions and connect you with the people and information to start a successful food business.

What You Need to Know About Being a Food Business in Minnesota

There are some general rules that apply in all circumstances. Please review the following:

  1. You need to have a license to sell food in Minnesota unless you meet an exclusion or exemption. The definition of “sell” is broad under Minnesota law – “sell” can also mean hold, transfer, or give away, even if no money is exchanged.
  2. All food businesses are subject to health and safety regulations, regardless of whether or not a food license is required.
  3. You must meet with an inspector before getting a license application. License applications are not available online. The only exception is for a Special Event Food Stand license.
  4. If you plan to manufacture meat products to wholesale (sell to other businesses/organizations), you must meet special requirements, and a meat inspector must be present at the time you manufacture the product.
  5. If you plan to sell food at a retail location, you may need a facility plan review and inspection before licensing.
  6. If you handle seafood, make juice, or pickle, bottle, or can food, you may need special training before you can be licensed.
  7. Restaurants, caterers, and food trucks that primarily serve ready-to-eat meal items or beverages, prepared or served onsite per customer order, are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) or a local health agency, not the MDA. You can find more information on the MDH food licensing website.
  8. There are a few exclusions and exemptions to the food licensing requirement. Generally, you cannot sell food made from your home, but exceptions to this rule include cottage food producers and those selling products of the farm or garden. Please note that local zoning requirements may also prevent you from selling food from your home. A cottage food producer registration is not a food license, and those wishing to produce cottage foods must be registered with the MDA.<
  9. Please keep in mind that the process to start a food business, meet all requirements, and eventually obtain a license takes time.

Pre-Consultation Questionnaire

If you have further questions, please fill out the following web form for a referral to the MDA Licensing Liaison. We can follow up with most requests within five business days. Please allow for more time during high-volume licensing seasons.

Please fill out your contact information and answer these questions about your business.

Are you starting a new business that has not been licensed before?
Please choose one of the following
Will your business primarily be a food or non-food business?
Do you want to sell products from your farm or garden (with no added off-farm/purchased ingredients)?
Are you planning to slaughter/harvest live animals for meat sales?
What species of animal? (Choose all that apply)
Have you taken a HACCP course?
What was the course for?
Do you want to produce and sell food out of your home?
Do you have a private well and septic system?
Who do you think you will sell most of your food to (51% or more of your total sales)? (Who is your primary target customer?)
Are you planning on selling any unpackaged foods or beverages intended for immediate consumption (e.g., coffee or smoothie beverages, sandwiches, salads, or hot foods) that are prepared or dispensed onsite per customer order?

Be as specific as possible, including details about processing, preserving, or packaging (e.g., Raw meats, jerky, fresh seafood, frosted cupcakes, canned pickled vegetables, prepackaged candy and soda, freeze-dried packaged meals, etc.).

Are you only planning on selling prepackaged foods that someone else manufactured and packaged?
Where do you plan to sell your food?
Will you be producing or selling alcohol or alcohol-containing food?
Will you be canning or bottling products, producing juice, or handling seafood, or pickling (performing specialized processes)?

Please provide any additional information you think may help us better understand your vision or business plan.