Cholula’s Bakery apologizes but their health record has been bad for awhile

Cholula’s Bakery has posted an apology on their Facebook page in the wake of this week’s scandal that saw many of their customers sickened after they consumed their Rosca de Reyes bread.  Here is their apology:

First off and foremost we would like to apologize to all of our customers who experienced strange symptoms after eating our rosca de reyes cake. Our small business has been in operation for over 14 years and we have never seen anything like this; at the same time we don’t want anyone to think that for any reason we are attempting to bypass our responsibilities.

There are steps we need to take and at this moment our small business is collaborating with the health department to solve this problem, and our employees are also working hard to ensure our business is safe and in good condition to continue providing our loyal customers the quality product they come to purchase. Again, we are apologetic and in a way ashamed this happened to our customers.

As soon as we are informed what caused these rare side effects, you will be informed too.

While I feel bad for the family that owned Cholula’s the fact is that they knew they had issues long before the Rosca de Reyes disaster occurred.  They were previously inspected by the Orange County Health Care Agency on August 7, 2014 and were issued these health violations:

• Unsanitary Equipment/Utensil/Linen/Plumbing
• Lack of/Improper Handwashing/Handwashing Sup.
• Restroom in Disrepair/Unclean/Improp. Use/Supplies
• Inoperable/Lack of Food Thermometer
• Lack of/Unsanitary/Condition Walls/Floors/Ceilings
• Improper Holding Temperatures of PHF
• Evidence of Vermin Activity/Presence of Animals/Insects

Before that they were inspected on February 19, 2014 and were issued these health violations:

• Improper Holding Temp of PHF (60F-120F), (50F-59F)
• Inappropriate Sanitizer Level/ Lack of Test Strips
• Uncleanliness of Premises/Trash Storage
• Improper Holding Temperatures of PHF
• Unsanitary Equipment/Utensil/Linen/Plumbing
• Lack of/Unsanitary/Condition Walls/Floors/Ceilings
• Restroom in Disrepair/Unclean/Improp. Use/Supplies
• Lack of/Improper Handwashing/Handwashing Sup.

You can read their entire record of health violations here.

The Orange County Health Care Agency and the Santa Ana Police Department announced today that there was a synthetic drug in the Cholula’s Rosca de Reyes bread that sickened quite a few people.  It is one thing to have health violations – but how and why did a synthetic drug get into this product?

The OC Health Care Agency will no doubt trace back any materials used by Cholula’s including flour, eggs, sugar, etc.  And the SAPD will be taking a very close look at the workers at Cholula’s including any disgruntled former workers who may have quit or been fired.  These agencies will figure out what happened – and we will be sure to update our readers when we know more.