Frozen Dessert

The Missouri Department of Health and Seniors Services and local public health agencies regulate more than 2,000 establishments that manufacture, sell or serve frozen dessert products throughout the state. The Missouri Law, Sections 196.851 – 196.895 RSMo was enacted in 1955 to assure the wholesomeness and purity of the product. Each establishment is inspected and required to obtain a state-issued frozen dessert license annually.

Definition of Frozen Dessert establishment:

• A Frozen Dessert Plant is any place or premise where frozen desserts or mixes are processed, pasteurized, frozen or packaged for distribution or sale.
• A Frozen Dessert Processor is any person who freezes any pasteurized mix into semisolid or solid form for retail distribution or sale as a frozen dessert.
• Frozen Dessert Plants and those establishments processing products such as ice cream, soft-serve products, frozen yogurt, frozen custard, sherbets, water ice, and frozen novelties do require a frozen dessert license.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has determined that establishments manufacturing and/or freezing ice beverage products exclusively, such as icees, slurpies, frozen cappuccino, etc. or serving hard hand-dipped ice cream do not require a frozen dessert license.

Application and instructions are available online. Contact us if you have any questions.

For more information on the Regulations governing Frozen Dessert, please see the Food Safety page and click the Laws and Regulations listed on the left sidebar of that page.