Growth in number of home caterers, but knowledge of food safety rules lacking

Anyone who prepares, processes, or sells food is required to operate in accordance with an HACCP food safety plan, also known as a hygiene code. This hygiene code sets out the rules for handling food safely. In addition, business owners must register with the NVWA. A large proportion of starters are not aware of these obligations before they begin production.

The role of the media in the growing food craze

The popularity of cooking and baking is partly fuelled by television programmes such as *Heel Holland Bakt*, cookery shows on channels such as 24Kitchen, Netflix baking shows, and the vast amount of food content on social media. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok make it easy to showcase cooking skills. Food content is one of the largest categories on social media.

An accessible start, but with unexpected obligations

As a result, more and more amateur cooks are taking the step towards entrepreneurship. The barrier to entry is low: many newcomers work from home, alongside a full-time job, and see their activity as an accessible way to earn extra income. However, newcomers often do not realise that the same food safety regulations apply as for professional kitchens.

Key figures and insights

• The number of part-time home caterers – self-employed individuals who prepare meals or provide catering services from their own kitchen alongside a full-time job – has been growing for years. In January 2022, there were 4,332 registered; by January 2026, this figure had risen to 8,053.
• In addition, the broader group of self-employed people who run a catering business entirely independently from home is also growing. Their number rose from 11,008 on 1 January 2022 to 16,839 at the start of this year. This is evident from figures from KVK’s Business Register.
• Discussions with new business owners suggest that an estimated 9 out of 10 are not fully aware of food safety regulations.
• Violations can pose a risk to food safety, potentially lead to customers falling ill and damage a business’s reputation. Furthermore, warnings and fines may be imposed.

Information campaign to better reach new entrepreneurs

To better reach this growing group, KVK and the NVWA have produced a joint information video which will be published on Tuesday 10 March. The video clearly explains which rules apply, how new business owners can prepare to operate safely, and how they can register with the NVWA. “We are seeing an enthusiastic and growing group of home cooks and home bakers. You can start small, from home, without major investment. Consumers are also increasingly appreciating local, homemade, and artisanal food,” says KVK adviser Gerdine Annaars. “But some of these home caterers are unwittingly putting themselves at risk due to a lack of essential knowledge. Good information is vital. The video offers guidance on how to get off to a well-prepared start.”

Home baker on the importance of food safety

Rebecca Munster, ‘rebecbakt’ on Instagram, is an enterprising home baker and features in the video: “As a home baker, you naturally want everything you make to be safe. In the hygiene code, you’ll see that many of the rules actually make perfect sense and that you often comply with them without even realising it, such as washing your hands properly and working in a clean environment. But there are also elements, such as HACCP, whose importance I hadn’t previously realised. With the right information, you know exactly what to look out for and can get started with confidence.”

The information video ‘Do you want to sell food from home?’ by KVK and NVWA is available from Tuesday 10 March on ‘Home catering: what you need to arrange’.