Wholesale Food Operations/Manufactured Food

IDPH regulates food products processed, packaged, labeled, stored, and distributed for wholesale in Illinois through registration and inspection. You may hear wholesale food businesses referred to as “manufactured food.” Generally, wholesale refers to the sale of food from one business to another for resale or reservice, e.g., selling food to a grocery store or restaurant.

The manufactured food program and corresponding regulations are designed to minimize the occurrence of foodborne illness and ensure that foods manufactured, processed, packaged, or stored in Illinois are safe, wholesome, have been prepared in a sanitary manner under sanitary conditions, and are properly labeled. Specialized processing like Seafood HACCP, Juice HACCP, Acidified Foods, and Low Acid Canned Foods (LACF) have additional regulations and requirements. View the IDPH Wholesale Flowchart to determine the regulations applicable to various manufactured food facilities. The wholesale food guidance gives more specific guidance about these requirements for manufactured food firms.

Different agencies regulate different parts of the food supply. It is important to understand what agency regulates your product(s) and what regulations apply. Your firm and product(s) may be regulated by multiple regulatory agencies.

If products are sold interstate (over state lines), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also has jurisdiction. Products sold directly to consumers, including online or at farmers markets, are considered retail sales and are regulated by local health departments in Illinois. Learn more about requirements for retail food business.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture regulate meat, poultry, and products containing a certain amount of meat or poultry, e.g., sausage pizza or chicken egg rolls. IDOA also regulates shell eggs.

The Manufactured Food Application is used for several different types of facilities and programs. These programs include manufactured food, salvage, bottled water plants, and bottled water sources. Salvage, bottled water plants, and bottled water sources are required to obtain a permit from IDPH prior to beginning operation. A permit will not be issued without an inspection and payment of a nonrefundable license fee.

Manufactured food facilities include general food processors, juice processors, seafood processors, acidified processors, low acid canned food (LACF) processors, warehouses, repackers, and shellfish distributors. IDPH only inspects registered or permitted facilities. To register, you must complete and submit the manufactured food application.

A floor plan and product labels should be included with the application. Warehouse facilities do not need to submit product labels unless they are repackaging food products and adding new labels. After IDPH receives and reviews the application, an IDPH inspector will be in contact to schedule an inspection. It may take several weeks before an inspector is available to complete an inspection. The application and questions can be emailed to DPH.MfgFood@Illinois.gov. For online applications, view instructions on this webpage.

• Manufactured Food Application

Firms that want to distribute shellfish across state lines must be inspected by IDPH. With an inspection a firm can be included on the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List (ICSSL). More information about the ISSCL can be found at their website.

National Shellfish Sanitation Program

• Current Good Manufacturing Practices
• Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food (21 CFR Part 117): Guidance for Industry Small Entity Compliance Guide
• FDA Food Labeling & Nutrition
• FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
• FDA Food Safety Plan Builder
• IDOA Egg Inspection
• IDOA Meat and Poultry
• Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List
• Guidance for Commercial Processors of Acidified and Low-Acid Canned Foods
• Juice HACCP
• National Shellfish Sanitation Program
• Registration of Manufactured Food Facilities
• Seafood HACCP

• Illinois Food, Drugs and Cosmetic Act
• Sanitary Food Preparation Act
• Food Safety Transportation Act
• Salvage Warehouse and Salvage Warehouse Store Act
• The Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Code
• The Manufacturing, Processing, Packing or Holding of Food
• Processors of Fresh and Smoked Fish
• Processors of Cacao Products and Confectionery
• Soft Drink Manufacturers
• Sanitary Vending of Food and Beverages
• Salvage Warehouses and Stores for Foods, Alcoholic Liquors, Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Code