SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) was signed into law Friday expanding the venues where home-cooked food operations may sell their products.

“Especially in light of hardships faced across the state due to the pandemic, we need to be expanding opportunities for Illinoisans to create extra income, not limiting them,” Koehler said. “If even one family is more able to make ends meet as a result of this legislation, it will have served its purpose.

Cottage food operations are vendors that prepare products in a home kitchen. Senate Bill 2007 permits cottage food operations to sell their products at farmers’ markets, fairs, festivals or public events, as well as online. This legislation would require these entrepreneurs to submit recipes and food safety plans to local public health departments in order to be permitted to sell their products to the public. It also sets a framework for the Illinois Department of Public Health to provide statewide guidance on how to regulate cottage foods to local health departments.

“Not only does this law have the potential to increase income for families here in Illinois, it will help us preserve the history of our communities as well,” Koehler said. “Many of the recipes used by these home cooks may have been passed down for generations, and we want to ensure that they are able to share that bit of history.”

The law will go into effect January 1, 2022.