Why is HomeBites AI different?

Every chef on HomeBites AI is an individual cooking from a home kitchen — not a restaurant. We operate under the Texas Cottage Food Law (SB 541), which lets people sell home-cooked food directly to customers without a commercial kitchen license.

This is what makes the food on HomeBites AI special. It's also why we work differently from a regular delivery app.

What does "cottage food" mean for me as a customer?

When you order on HomeBites AI:

The food is prepared in a home, not a licensed restaurant. Texas law allows this for non-hazardous foods. Government health inspectors do not inspect home kitchens.

Every item must be labeled. Each dish you receive will have a label with the chef's name, dish name, ingredients/allergens, and a notice that the food was prepared at home.

You acknowledge this at checkout. Every order requires you to confirm you understand the food comes from a private home kitchen.

What can — and can't — chefs sell?

Chefs CAN sell:

• Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pies)
• Vegetarian and vegan dishes
• Pickles, jams, chutneys, preserves (high-acid)
• Cooked rice and grain dishes (vegetable biryani, dal, pulao)
• Eggs and egg dishes
• Pasteurized dairy products (cheese, yogurt, paneer)
• Honey, syrups, and dried herbs

Chefs CANNOT sell:

• Meat (beef, pork, lamb, goat)
• Poultry (chicken, turkey, duck)
• Seafood (any fish or shellfish)
• Ice cream, gelato, or frozen desserts
• Raw or unpasteurized milk
• Home-canned vegetables or low-acid canned goods
• CBD, THC, or cannabis-derived ingredients

If you ever see something that looks prohibited, please report it through your order history or email us.

Allergen safety

Chefs are required to list allergens on every dish, but they prepare food in their own home kitchens. If you have a serious food allergy, contact the chef directly before ordering to confirm preparation conditions.

The FDA's "Big 9" allergens that chefs must declare:

• Milk · Eggs · Fish · Shellfish · Tree nuts · Peanuts · Wheat · Soybeans · Sesame

Food safety basics

Texas Cottage Food Law allows certain prepared foods that need refrigeration ("TCS foods" — time/temperature controlled for safety) ONLY if the chef has a special DSHS food handler registration. These chefs are listed clearly. For these items, follow the safe handling instructions on the label — typically refrigerate immediately and consume within 24 hours.

What if something goes wrong?

If you receive food that's spoiled, mislabeled, or makes you ill:

1. Stop eating it immediately
2. Save the packaging and label if you can
3. Seek medical attention if you're unwell — call 911 for emergencies
4. Report it through your order history on HomeBites AI, or email info@algorythmai.com

We take every report seriously. Reports about food safety go to the top of our queue and we respond within 1 hour for urgent cases.

Questions?

We're a small team trying to give home cooks a fair platform — and customers great food they can trust. If you have questions about how cottage food works, our policies, or anything else, we'd love to hear from you.

Email: info@algorythmai.com