DEFUSCOSBAKERY.pngOn Friday, March 25 the Rhode Island Department of Health issued a recall of all baked goods from DeFusco’s Bakery in Johnston.

Cases of Illness between March 14 – April 7, 2011 (Last Report)

• 79 Cases Total

• 30 Hospitalizations

• 48 Lab-confirmed Salmonella

• 2 Salmonella-associated Deaths

We have been informed that DeFusco’s may well have no insurance and intends to file bankruptcy. DeFusco’s Inspection Report was alarming; the fact that it will leave dozens of families without a likely legal recourse is pathetic.  Here is a “taste” of what was found:

Inspectors say they found pastry cream sitting on the floor, stored at room temperature — a major code violation.

“The temperature of the light cream was 125 degrees F and the temperature of the chocolate cream was 119 degrees F.”

The Health Department requires cream to be cooled to 41 degrees and stored in the refrigerator.

Another violation involves cross-contamination of pastry shells places in egg boxes.

“Ready to eat previously baked pastry shells used for zeppoles, eclairs, and cream puffs, were stored in boxes that were used to store raw shell eggs.”