- Georgia Department of Agriculture Cottage Food regulations establish strict food safety training, labeling, and direct-to-consumer sales rules for home-based bakeries.
- Every baker must maintain current ANSI-accredited Food Protection Manager / Food Handler certification.
- All custom orders include full ingredient transparency and major FDA allergen disclosures (wheat, eggs, milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts).
- Direct in-person pickup in Smyrna, Georgia ensures every cake is inspected directly by the client before handoff.
1. What the Georgia Cottage Food Program Means for Customers
Under the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) Cottage Food regulations, permitted cottage food operators produce non-potentially hazardous baked goods—including celebration cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and pastries—directly from a dedicated, rigorously sanitized home kitchen for direct sale to end consumers within the state of Georgia.
Operating as a boutique studio bakery in Smyrna allows DAOS Cakes to bake every single order 100% from scratch to order, rather than mass-producing and freezing hundreds of commercial sheet cakes weeks in advance.
2. Our 5-Stage Kitchen Sanitation & Allergen Protocol
Before a single gram of flour is weighed for your celebration cake, our Smyrna kitchen executes a strict pre-production sanitation sequence:
| Protocol Stage | Standard Operating Procedure | Verification Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Surface Sterilization | All stainless-steel prep tables, mixer bowls, and turntables are washed with hot detergent and sanitized with food-contact quaternary ammonium / 70% isopropyl sanitizer | Sanitized prior to every single batch |
| 2. Ingredient Lot Auditing | All dairy, cage-free eggs, flours, and chocolates are date-labeled upon receipt and stored at verified temperatures (Refrigeration ≤ 38°F) | Digital thermometer log checked twice daily |
| 3. Dedicated Pastry Tools | Silicone spatulas, piping tips, and anodized aluminum pans are sanitized in high-temperature sanitize cycles (155°F+) | Zero porous or cracked utensils permitted |
| 4. Personal Hygiene & PPE | Hair restraints, clean pastry aprons, and frequent handwashing + nitrile glove changes during final decoration | ANSI Food Handler certified protocol |
| 5. Allergen Segregation | Orders involving nut fillings (such as Georgia pecan carrot cake) are scheduled and sanitized separately from nut-free vanilla/chocolate orders | Mandatory 9-allergen advisory on every order |
Pastry Chef Pro-Tip: Every DAOS Cakes box is accompanied by transparent care instructions and statutory Georgia Cottage Food disclosure labeling so you and your event guests know the exact ingredients inside your dessert.
3. Why We Require In-Person Inspection & Cash Payment at Pickup
Bespoke celebration cakes are delicate, perishable works of edible art. By conducting all pickups in person by appointment in Smyrna, Georgia—and collecting payment in cash only after you see and inspect your finished cake in person—we guarantee 100% accountability. You never pay online sight-unseen, and we personally review vehicle floorboard placement and air-conditioning setup with you as we hand over your cake box.
Frequently Asked Technical Questions
What statutory statement appears on Georgia Cottage Food labels?
In accordance with Georgia Department of Agriculture rules, cottage food labels include the business name, address, ingredient list in descending order of weight, allergen disclosures, and the statement: "MADE IN A COTTAGE FOOD OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO STATE FOOD SAFETY INSPECTIONS."
Do you ship cakes via mail or courier outside of Georgia?
No. Multi-layered buttercream celebration cakes are delicate and require temperature-controlled vehicle floorboard transport. All orders are picked up in person in Smyrna, Georgia.