What you can sell from a home kitchen

Low-risk and potentially hazardous foods explained, with examples across baked, preserved and frozen.

6 min read. Last checked 20 October 2026.

Low-risk foods

Since 1 January 2021, Ontario treats food that does not need time and temperature control as low-risk, and home businesses making only these foods are exempt from certain requirements such as a dedicated handwashing sink, commercial dishwashing equipment and food handler certification. They are still subject to public health inspection.

Breads and buns without meat or cream fillings.
Cookies, muffins and brownies; cakes with non-refrigerated icing. Not custard-filled.
Jams, jellies, preserves and pickles made with tested recipes (see the preserving guide).
Granola, nuts, seeds, hard candy, brittle, fudge, chocolate, coffee and tea.

Potentially hazardous foods

These need to be kept cold or hot to stay safe. York Region lists dairy, meat, fish, poultry and egg products, cooked rice, pasta and potatoes, cream-cheese icing and some raw produce. This is where most frozen meals sit: lasagne, stews, pot pies, soups with meat or dairy, cooked grains.

They are not banned from home kitchens, but the requirements are stricter and set by your public health unit.
York Region lists a designated handwashing sink, a 2- or 3-compartment sink or commercial dishwasher and a certified food handler on site at all times.
Ingredients must come from approved or inspected sources.

Where our three formats fall

Baked: many baked goods are low-risk. Meat pies, quiches and anything with custard or fresh cream are not.
Preserved: jams and pickles can be low-risk if your recipe and method are tested. Low-acid canning is a higher-risk activity; see the preserving guide.
Frozen: cooked frozen meals are generally potentially hazardous, so plan for the stricter requirements, or cook in a commercial kitchen.

If you are unsure which side a food is on, ask your public health inspector. They would rather you asked.

Selling across the GTA

Ontario's rules apply to the whole GTA, but each public health unit inspects and advises its own area. Selling to someone in another municipality does not change which unit covers your kitchen. Selling across provincial borders or exporting changes things federally; our pickup-only model keeps you inside Ontario.

Sources

This guide summarizes public information and is not legal advice. Your public health unit decides what applies to your kitchen.