Is homemade jam legal to sell in the UK?

Yes — selling homemade jam is legal in the UK. You will need to register as a food business with your local council (free), ensure your jam is labelled correctly under UK food labelling regulations, and have allergen information available. A food hygiene certificate is strongly recommended though not strictly legally required.

What must be on a homemade jam label in the UK?

UK food labelling regulations require: the name of the product, a full ingredients list (in descending order of weight), allergen information (allergens in bold in the ingredients list), net weight, best before date, your name and address as the producer, storage instructions if relevant, and lot number or batch code. Fruit content percentage is required for jams under the Jam Regulations 2003.

Do I need a best before date on homemade jam?

Yes — a best before date is required on packaged food sold in the UK including homemade jam. Properly made and sealed jam typically has a best before of 12-24 months unopened. Once opened, most producers recommend consuming within 4-6 weeks and storing in the fridge.

What is the minimum fruit content for jam in the UK?

Under the UK Jam and Similar Products Regulations 2003, jam must contain a minimum of 35% fruit (60% for some fruits). Extra jam must contain at least 45% fruit. The fruit content percentage must be stated on the label as "prepared with Xg of fruit per 100g".

Do I need to list allergens on homemade jam labels?

Yes — if your jam contains any of the 14 major allergens (including sulphur dioxide in dried fruit above certain levels), these must be emphasised in the ingredients list, typically in bold. Even if your jam contains no allergens, it's good practice to include a "may contain" statement if you make other products in the same kitchen that do contain allergens.

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How to Label Homemade Jam for Sale in the UK

17 June 2026

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How to Label Homemade Jam for Sale in the UK

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Homemade jam is one of the most popular products at UK farm stalls and honesty boxes — and one of the easiest to get wrong when it comes to labelling. UK food labelling regulations apply to homemade jam sold commercially just as they do to supermarket products, and getting them wrong can result in a poor hygiene rating or a requirement to withdraw stock.

This guide covers exactly what must appear on your label, how to produce labels cheaply at home, and the most common mistakes to avoid.

What must go on a homemade jam label

Under UK food labelling regulations (The Food Information to Consumers Regulation and the Jam and Similar Products Regulations 2003), the following are mandatory on any packaged jam sold commercially:

Label element	Notes
Product name	"Strawberry Jam" — must be accurate. "Conserve" and "Extra Jam" are legally distinct terms with higher fruit content requirements.
Ingredients list	In descending order of weight. Example: Strawberries (55%), Sugar, Lemon Juice. Allergens in bold.
Fruit content	"Prepared with Xg of fruit per 100g" — required under Jam Regulations. Minimum 35% for standard jam.
Allergen information	Allergens highlighted in bold within the ingredients list. Add a "may contain" note if relevant.
Net weight	In grams — e.g. "227g". Must be accurate.
Best before date	"Best before end: MM/YYYY" — typically 12-24 months for properly sealed jam.
Producer name and address	Your full name and address — your home address is fine for cottage industry producers.
Storage instructions	"Store in a cool dry place. Refrigerate after opening and consume within 4 weeks."
Lot / batch number	A simple code — e.g. the date of making. Allows traceability if there's ever a problem.

A full label example

Strawberry Jam

Prepared with 55g of strawberries per 100g

Ingredients: Strawberries (55%), Sugar, Lemon Juice

No artificial preservatives. May contain traces of nuts.

Net weight: 227g

Best before end: 06/2027

Lot: 20260617

Store in a cool dry place. Refrigerate after opening and consume within 4 weeks.

Produced by: [Your Name], [Your Address]

You can use this as a template — adjust the fruit content percentage, ingredients and dates to match your recipe.

How to produce labels at home

You don't need a professional printer or design software to produce good-looking, compliant jam labels. A few options:

Option 1: Print at home on label sheets

The cheapest and most flexible option. Design your label in Word, Canva (free) or Google Docs, then print onto adhesive label sheets. Round labels on lids and rectangular labels on the body of the jar look the most professional.

Round Avery label sheets (40mm) — fit standard jam jar lids perfectly. Print at home on any inkjet or laser printer.
Kraft paper rectangular label sheets — a natural, handmade look that suits homemade jam beautifully. Popular for farm stall products.
Waterproof inkjet label paper — worth using if your jars will be stored in damp conditions or fridges. Regular paper labels smudge and peel when wet.

Option 2: Thermal label printer

If you're making jam regularly and in volume, a thermal label printer is a significant time saver. No ink to replace, fast printing, and you can update dates and batch numbers instantly without reprinting a whole sheet.

Phomemo thermal label printer — compact, Bluetooth-connected, works with a phone app. Popular with small food producers.
Dymo LabelWriter 450 — desktop thermal printer, fast and reliable for regular label runs.

Option 3: Custom printed labels

For a fully branded, professional look, custom printed labels from an online print house can cost as little as £20-30 for 100 labels. You supply the design, they print on waterproof stock with full colour. Good for established sellers with a consistent recipe — less flexible if you change ingredients or dates regularly.

Jars worth using

The jar itself matters — buyers judge homemade jam partly by how it looks. A good jar with a clean label on a neat stall sells better than the same jam in a mismatched collection of recycled jars.

Kilner-style 227g jam jars (bulk pack) — the standard size for farm stall jam. Clean, stackable, and buyers recognise the format instantly.
Hexagonal jam jars 190ml — a slightly more premium look that displays well on a stall and photographs better for social media.
Replacement lids (70mm) — always use new lids for each batch. Reusing lids risks a broken seal and spoilage.

Common labelling mistakes to avoid

Missing the fruit content statement — easily overlooked but required under jam regulations
Allergens not in bold — the most commonly flagged issue in small producer inspections
No producer address — your full address must appear, not just a name
Vague best before — "2027" is not sufficient. Must be month and year at minimum
Weight not accurate — weigh a sample of filled jars to make sure your stated net weight is correct
Using the word "preserve" or "conserve" loosely — these have specific legal meanings under jam regulations

Selling jam from a farm stall or honesty box?

List your preserves on The Farm Stall so local buyers can find you. Free to list, with card payments available on the Grow plan.

Create your free listing → Read: food business registration →