Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Dairy and Food Inspection Program
651-201-6027

Livestock farmers who wish to sell their products to consumers, grocery stores, restaurants, boarding houses, and other food service institutions, must meet certain requirements relating to food safety prior to sale.

1. The poultry and livestock must be slaughtered and processed in an establishment that is inspected continuously by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Meat and Poultry Inspection Program (MDA), or the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). A list of state-inspected meat and poultry plants is available on the Department website at www.mda.state.mn.us look under Minnesota Department of Agriculture A to Z, (P- processing plants) or call us for a copy. For a listing of USDA-inspected plants, contact the Minneapolis District office at 612-370-2400.

2. All packages of product must be properly labeled with the product identity and the inspection brands of either MDA or USDA.

3. Product identity includes the name of the product, a complete list of ingredients, and the name, address, and zip code of the manufacturer or distributor. All labels must be submitted for approval to the respective state or federal inspector at the plant prior to using the inspection legend on any packages 

4. In many cases livestock farmers are exempted from licensing if they raise the animals on the farm on which they live and only sell single ingredient products such as steaks, chops, or ground meats. However, the livestock farmer must have an approved facility for the storage and delivery of the products. In addition the Department does maintain a registration list of those who are exempted from licensing and selling food products. You can register by contacting the MDA Dairy and Food Inspection Division at 651-201-6027. Please notify them that you are exempted from licensing and need to register as a food handler and you will be referred to the area supervisor or inspector.

Meat processed at a custom-exempt processor cannot be sold and must be identified “Not For Sale.” (A custom meat processor is defined in state and federal law as a plant that is exempted from continuous inspection because they only process meat for the owner of the animal. The meat products can be consumed by the owner, the owner’s immediate family, and non-paying guests, but not sold.)

This fact sheet was originally authored in 2003 by Lynn Mader as part of a project coordinated by Pride of the Prairie, a collaborative project of area farmers and citizen; Land Stewardship Project; University of Minnesota-Morris; University of Minnesota Extension Service; West Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership; and the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture was a partner in the project, and financial support was provided by the North Central Sustainable Agriculture Professional Development Program (SARE PDP). The fact sheet was revised in July 2006 by Kevin Elfering, head of the Dairy and Food Inspection Division at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.