Startup tracking checklist · 🇺🇸 United States

U.S. Human Food Startup Checklist

Track the federal, state and local layers a U.S. human-food startup should investigate. A federal answer alone is often incomplete: mark items completed only after the right authority confirms each one.

Item to investigate Investigate Completed Not Applicable
  1. 1. Federal scope: confirm with FDA whether facility registration applies to you (registration is not approval) and whether CGMP or preventive controls cover your facility.
  2. 2. State cottage-food check: confirm whether your product and sales model fit your state’s cottage-food law; freeze-dried foods may or may not be allowed in your state.
  3. 3. State processing license: confirm your state’s licensing for food processing and manufacturing before operating.
  4. 4. Local zoning and building use: confirm with your county and city that the premises may be used as a food operation.
  5. 5. Local health permits: confirm the health permits your locality requires for food establishments.
  6. 6. Labeling: confirm the current federal labeling requirements for identity, net quantity, ingredients, business information, allergens and nutrition where applicable.
  7. 7. Nutrition Facts: evaluate whether the current FDA criteria apply to your product and business, including any exemption you may think applies.
  8. 8. Sales rules: confirm the rules for your channel (farmers market, online, wholesale) with the state, county, city and market organizer.
  9. 9. Sanitation and traceability: document cleaning schedules and batch records as part of your operation, federal requirements where applicable and good practice otherwise.
  10. 10. Interstate check: if you ship or sell across state lines, confirm the federal layer and each destination state’s rules.

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