8 Things You Can’t Make in Your Kitchen and Sell in Illinois

I am both a cook and not very good at it. I suppose that's why it's never occurred to me that I could potentially make something in a kitchen then sell it to somebody. Did you know there are numerous items you cannot make in your kitchen and sell in Illinois? The list is much longer than you probably think.

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The Institute for Justice defines a cottage food as "food made in a home kitchen for sale". Simple enough. The University of Illinois has a long list of "cottage foods" that you cannot legally sell in Illinois. This is not their full list, but many that I (and hopefully you will) find interesting.

Meat, poultry, seafood, shellfish are among the things you cannot sell out of your home in Illinois so if you have an aquarium that you aspire to turn into a business, sorry.

Dairy is on the "not OK" cottage food list except when included in "a non-potentially hazardous baked good or candy".

Eggs from your backyard chickens aren't OK to sell unless they're "in a non-potentially hazardous baked good or in dry noodles, or as an ingredient in a baked good frosting" according to the University of Illinois.

This one surprised and disappointed me. As a fan of every pumpkin pie I've ever met, it's sad these can't be sold. But, if you'd like to give me one as a gift then...(pretty much kidding...kind of)

I'm mystified why sprouts cannot be grown and sold, but I also don't eat sprouts so I guess I'll just be quiet now.

Are pureed items something that can be turned into a drug sold on the streets? I'm asking honestly because I don't understand why pureed fresh tomatoes and melons aren't legal to make and sell in Illinois.

See above complaint about pureed tomatoes.

Got a non-licensed home brewery? Don't sell your concoctions or else.

You can hunt wild mushrooms in Illinois, but don't try selling them.