There was a synthetic drug in Cholula’s Bakery’s Rosca de Reyes bread

Santa Ana Police Department
For Immediate Release: January 9, 2015
Contacts: nstanfield@ochca.com, (714) 834-2178; abertagna@santa-ana.org, (714) 245-8029

Advisory: Foodborne Illness Investigation at Cholula’s Bakery

(Santa Ana) – One January 6, 2015 the Orange County Health Care Agency closed Cholula’s Bakery in Santa Ana and began a foodborne illness investigation after receiving several reports of illness related to eating Rosca de Reyes Bread distributed by the bakery on January 5 and 6, 2015.

Based on preliminary laboratory results from product samples that indicated the presence of a synthetic drug in the bread, the investigation will be handed back to the Santa Ana Police Department for criminal investigation. Confirmatory laboratory results are expected in one to two weeks. Persons who believe they have consumed the tainted bread are encouraged to contact the Santa Ana Police Crimes Against Persons Unit at (714) 245-8390.

The Orange County Health Care Agency will keep the bakery closed, as part of the foodborne illness investigation, until three specific criteria are met: professional restaurant grade cleaning, disposal of all opened food and all ingredients used to make the Rosca de Reyes bread, and mandatory food safety training for all staff.

All Orange County food facility investigation reports are available on the Health Care Agency website at www.ocfoodinfo.com.

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Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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