Pandemic boom of at-home caterers, cooks presents legal issue OTTAWA COUNTY — One pandemic-fueled craze is presenting legal challenges for local health departments: the sale of home-cooked food. As hundreds of Michigan residents have been forced to spend more time at home, many of them have taken their love of cooking to a new level — launching catering services, packaged meals and drinks from the comfort of their own kitchen. But selling those items, especially online, could lead to trouble with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, which handles food service licensure. According to Michigan's Cottage Food Law, passed in 2010, a small category of prepackaged food may be sold from home. While most bakers operating under Cottage Law have a presence on social media to reach customers, sales cannot be made directly online, such as through Facebook Marketplace.