Starting a Home-based Food Business

The best small businesses are born out of a passion and a dream. When it comes to many home-based food businesses, they start with a love of food and a cherished family recipe. Whether passionate about making grandma’s coveted baked goods or a new take on homegrown pickles, jams and preserves, the Ontario government is making it easier for Ontarians to share their homemade goods with their communities and turn their passion into a successful business.

Ontario has made changes to the Food Premises Regulation under the Health Protection and Promotion Act that allow more flexibility for small, independent businesses to sell their low-risk, home-prepared foods from their homes or at special events like farmers’ markets, festivals and fairs. While these changes came into effect on January 1, 2020, the desire to start low-risk, home based food businesses has only increased during COVID, this document helps to clarify the rules.

Low-risk foods are non-hazardous and do not require refrigeration. They include such items as baked goods, pickles, jams and preserves, chocolates, hard candies and brittles, fudge and toffees, granola, trail mix, nuts and seeds, and coffee beans and tea leaves. These regulatory changes support Ontario’s entrepreneurs in running a home-based food business, without compromising our high standards for food safety. The changes also give Ontarians new opportunities to buy locally produced foods.

The Ministry of Health has published a guide to help such entrepreneurs take the recommended steps to succeed, in a food-safe way, in their homemade food business efforts.