Compliance

Potluck Pod vs Meal Node: Legal Distinction Why the distinction matters — and how to stay on the right side of the line. Executive Summary Liana Banyan’s meal ecosystem operates in two distinct legal lanes: Structure Legal Status Money Flow Compliance Burden Potluck Pod Non-commercial sharing No money changes hands Minimal (disclosure only) Meal Node Commercial operation Paid transactions Full (licensing, insurance, inspections) Critical principle: You cannot blur these lines. A Potluck Pod that starts accepting payments becomes a Meal Node and must comply with commercial food regulations. ...

State Compliance Checklist: Meal Operations Know your lane before you launch. Overview This checklist helps members identify the appropriate compliance tier for their jurisdiction. States fall into three categories: Category Description States Cottage-Food Friendly Expanded home-based food sales allowed TX, CA, WY, UT, ND, and others MEHKO States Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations permitted CA, UT (and expanding) Strict States Commercial kitchen required for most paid meal prep NY, NJ, and others Tier Classification by State Tier A: Cottage-Food Friendly States These states have expanded cottage food laws allowing significant home-based food sales. ...