A bakery in San Carlos, CA, was informed through a warning letter sent May 6 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had found numerous labeling issues during an inspection performed from Jan. 13-27. Sweet Production Inc., which manufactures muffins, cakes and other bakery products, has not been labeling its Banana Walnut Muffin, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin, nor its Red Velvet Cake in accordance with federal food labeling regulations, FDA’s letter stated. As a result, those products are misbranded within the meaning of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Specifically, the agency noted that the firm’s finished product labels failed to declare major food allergens as required by law, although the product recipes indicated that the Banana Walnut Muffin, Red Velvet Cake and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin do contain eggs, wheat, soy, and milk. FDA’s warning letter also stated that the Red Velvet Cake product is misbranded because it “bears or contains an artificial coloring, flavoring, or a chemical preservative but does not bear labeling stating that fact.” Those items include FD&C Red No. 3 and FD&C Red No. 40, the letter noted. The company also did not include each product ingredient on its product labels, the net quantity of contents, or adequate nutrition information, nor did it include a statement of identity as required, according to FDA’s letter. The agency also offered the following comment: “If any nutrient content claims are made for your products i.e. ‘low fat’ and ‘sugar free,’ the product labels must include nutrition labeling if they are served or sold to the consumer in the package in which they are received in accordance with 21 CFR 101.9(j)(2).” Recipients of FDA warning letters have 15 days to respond in writing with specific steps they have taken to correct the noted violations, including a plan to prevent these, or similar violations, from occurring again. If corrective action cannot be completed with 15 working days, the company must give a reason for the delay and a timeframe within which the corrections will be made. (To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)