Aversa's Italian Bakery – FDA Warning Letter, Aug 19, 2025

The FDA issued a warning letter to Aversa"s Italian Bakery following an inspection of its Turnersville, New Jersey facility conducted from August 11 to August 19, 2025. The agency identified significant safety and labeling violations under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and associated human food regulations.

A primary concern is the company’s failure to implement a written food safety plan, a repeat violation from previous inspections. Laboratory analysis confirmed that products intended to be sesame-free contained sesame protein. This contamination was caused by inadequate cleaning of shared equipment and employees failing to follow proper hygiene protocols, such as changing gloves between handling different products. Further safety issues included fraying metal mesh on production lines that could lead to physical contamination and various personnel issues, including workers not wearing hair nets or removing jewelry in production areas.

Additionally, the bakery’s labels failed to disclose "milk" as a major allergen, provided inconsistent weight information, and omitted mandatory nutritional data and the company’s business address. The FDA also noted that the facility had failed to register as a food manufacturer as required by law.

Aversa"s Italian Bakery is required to respond within 15 working days with a detailed plan and documentation showing how these violations have been corrected. Failure to address these concerns may result in legal actions, such as product seizures or the suspension of the facility"s registration.