Research Report
The Home-Kitchen Pathway: New Data on California’s MEHKO Program
California’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) created a first-of-its kind legal pathway for home cooks to operate small food businesses from their permitted home kitchens. To understand how this new model is working, COOK Alliance and CAMEO Network partnered with independent researchers to evaluate the program’s first five years.
This comprehensive, multi-year report combines statewide regulatory data, surveys, focus groups, and public records analysis to assess safety, community impact, and economic outcomes.
Short Report
Click here to access a summarized version of the report with key findings and data.
Full Length report
Click here to access the full length version of the report, including detailed findings and methodology.
A few highlights:
MEHKOs have an exceptional safety and community impact record. 97% of MEHKOs have never faced a single formal complaint of any kind, including concerns about noise, traffic, parking, nuisance, or food safety issues.
Foodborne illness reports are extremely rare. Environmental health agencies identified only two (2) foodborne illness complaints across the 898 MEHKOs that received permits between 2019 and 2024.
MEHKOs are led by diverse entrepreneurs. More than three-quarters (79%) of MEHKO operators are people of color, compared to a national entrepreneurial landscape that is majority white. About 70% of MEHKO operators are women, well above the overall share of female new U.S. entrepreneurs.
MEHKO permits create meaningful economic and household benefits. 73% said their MEHKO helped them financially. Operators cited financial stability, work-life balance, and stronger community ties as the top benefits of operating a MEHKO.
Californians support MEHKOs and want to see the program grow. Although general awareness of the program is low, nine-in-ten Californians said they would support their county implementing a system for legal, permitted MEHKOs.