FDA issues warning letter to West Side bakery
CINCINNATI (WKRC) - A local dessert staple on the West Side got a warning from the FDA citing, what it is calling, “serious violations.“
Gary’s Cheesecake & Fine Desserts in Green Township has two options: make the appropriate corrections to the FDA’s liking or provide rationale for why it disagrees with the FDA.
It isn’t a traditional bakery where you walk in and pick what you want, you must order ahead of time.
The FDA’s warning letter reveals the FDA investigator inspected the facility from Jan. 31 to Feb. 15. In that time, several unsanitary conditions were cited. Those include a dead rodent on a glue trap next to a mixer, rodent pellets near preparation tables where brownies were being iced, rodent pellets near ingredients, and insect activity on glue traps near an oven.
The FDA outlines in its report there was a similar issue with rodent pellets back in 2020 during that inspection.
In addition, the FDA says the owner didn’t properly register the facility with the FDA.
According to the FDA warning letter, the owner did submit a response on March 7 disclosing what was done to remedy the situation. It said the bakery disposed of old traps, put new ones in, and sanitized areas. But the FDA said the response is like the one he submitted in 2020 and does not show corrective actions on a continual basis like a professional pest control service.
Local 12 on Monday talked briefly to the owner, who said there are no issues in his facility in terms of cleanliness, and that he doesn’t ever remember there being an FDA inspection in 2020.
The FDA returned an email to Local 12 in response to the owner’s comment. The FDA says inspections are rarely unannounced. Per protocol, the investigator will present credentials and someone from Gary’s Cheesecake & Fine Desserts would have been with the investigator at all times. The FDA said the business had to have known about the inspection, because it responded to the findings.
The FDA would not provide pictures or any further information due to it being an open case.
