Public Health - Cottage Food Products - Nonpotentially Hazardous Foods and Refrigerated Baked Goods

SB 701 updates Maryland's definition of "cottage food product" to include nonpotentially hazardous foods (foods that don't require refrigeration to prevent spoilage) and specifically adds refrigerated baked goods like cheesecakes, custards, fruit tarts, and refrigerated pies. This change directly affects small-scale food producers who sell homemade foods from their homes or at farmers' markets, expanding the types of products they can legally sell under existing cottage food laws. The bill revises Section 21-301(b-2) of the Maryland Health Code to replace the term "nonhazardous" with "nonpotentially hazardous" and adds a new definition for "refrigerated baked goods" in Section 21-301(j-2). These modifications clarify regulatory requirements without altering sales methods (e.g., direct-to-consumer, farmers' markets, or retail stores). The law takes effect October 1, 2025.