MSU Extension Product Center

Important Note

Connect with a Product Center Counselor

Key Information

Manufacturers making cold-pressed juice products for wholesale or retail must follow strict processing and labeling guidelines to align with Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations that ensure food safety and transparency for the consumer.

All cold-pressed juice products must be manufactured in a licensed commercial kitchen. If your cold-pressed juice product is sold directly to the consumer using the face-to-face sales method in a food service, it will require licensing by the Local Health Department. Wholesaling refrigerated and packaged cold-pressed juice products requires specialized processing, Process Authority Review (PAR) testing, a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan and training, specific labeling and an MDARD license. 

Regulatory Body and Contact Information

• Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD): (800) 292-3939
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Local Health Department

Helpful Links

• MSU Extension
  • MSU Product Center
• Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)
• Local Health Department
• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Principles and Application Guidelines

Important Note

All food and beverage products (even similar items) may have different regulations depending on what ingredients are used, the location or facility in which it is being produced, the packaging materials used, the distribution or shipping methods, as well as a variety of others. Licensing and regulation for food and beverage production in Michigan is administered by Local Health Departments, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), local zoning regulations, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). 

To guide you through the process of launching your food or beverage business, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension’s Product Center is an organization that brings together on-campus expertise in the sectors of food, agriculture, and natural resources to help entrepreneurs define and launch innovative products. Field-based innovation counselors advise entrepreneurs on a variety of services, including business planning, packaging and labeling rules, licensing and regulatory requirements, marketing, branding, distribution, product testing, and other product development needs.  

To access business development assistance from the MSU Product Center staff, select the “Become a Client” button on the MSU Product Center website. There is a $100 application fee to join, which grants clients access to unlimited counseling hours. We also ask that clients sign a confidentiality agreement to protect their information. 

If you have specific questions about how your product will be regulated, you may reach out to your Local Health Department or the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).