In Missouri, it’s legal to sell homemade cookies, but illegal to sell a hot, homemade dinner. This barrier holds back talented cooks who can't afford expensive commercial kitchens.

Other states safely regulate Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) so people can support their families by cooking from home. It’s time for Missouri to do the same. 

I propose a law that allows and requires the following:

• Clear Legal Framework: Establish "Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations" (MEHKOs) as a distinct category separate from existing cottage food laws, capped at $100,000 in gross annual sales to ensure they remain small-scale.
• Safe Food Production: Permit the same-day preparation and direct-to-consumer sale of hot, complex meals (excluding high-risk processes like curing meats). Limit production to 40 meals per day and 200 per week to minimize neighborhood traffic.
• Sensible Permitting: Require operators to submit menus and operating procedures to the local health department, hold an accredited food safety certification, and maintain standard business and sales tax registrations—while remaining exempt from commercial food establishment licenses.
• Residential Privacy & Standards: Explicitly authorize the use of standard home appliances instead of commercial-grade upgrades. Ensure health department inspections are limited to one scheduled visit per year to protect residential privacy.