Are You Breaking Missouri Law if You Sell Your Homemade Pickles?

I think it's safe to say that pickles are an acquired taste. I've had good pickles and bad ones, but the best are those that are homemade. However, did you know there are laws that address whether it's legal or not to buy and sell them?

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Let's be clear that I'm not a lawyer although there are many in my family that are. Apparently, I didn't inherit the law DNA when I was born. Too bad. But, I am an expert in researching weird things on the internet and I came across something peculiar about pickles.

Is it legal to sell homemade pickles in Missouri or not?

The Institute for Justice tackled this potentially pickled issue talking about what is referred to as Missouri's cottage food laws. They answered this burning question:

Can I Sell Acidified or Pickled Foods in Missouri?

The answer is an emphatic NO. 

Vox Magazine got in on the Missouri pickle issue, too. The short version is you can sell your own baked goods. Got cookies or cake to sell? You're good and legal. Want to unload a shelf full of homemade pickles? Don't even try it you pickle rebel.

Missouri takes it a step further saying you can't sell them online in the Show Me State either. So forget about starting a website called Buy My Illegal Pickles.com. 

I wouldn't want to go to jail and have to explain to my cell mate that I'm incarcerated because of illegal pickle sales. Would you?

I will say the pickles episode of The Andy Griffith Show was one of my favorites though.