Puerto Rico bakery shut after labeling violations and ‘unacceptable’ sanitary conditions

Los Genuinos, a member of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association, makes sweet bakery products for local supermarkets, grocery stores, bakeries and cafeterias in the region.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found Los Genuinos had “unacceptable”​ sanitary conditions with failures to protect food against pest contamination and a lack of equipment and utensils to adequately clean. It also found labeling violations as the company had failed to declare a food allergen and unsafe color additive used in its products.

The FDA issued its first warning letter in June, 2011 but the bakery did not implement corrective and preventive actions.

“The company’s failure to correct these problems puts the health of consumers at risk, which is unacceptable,”​ said Melinda K. Plaisier, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs at the FDA.

The court ruled that the bakery must hire an independent sanitation expert to help develop a written sanitation control program, review all product labeling and conduct an independent audit before it re-opens.