Zeppole Recall Lawsuit

On March 25, 2011, the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) advised consumers of a voluntary DeFusco’s Bakery recall of all baked goods sold at their Johnston and Cranston locations. During an inspection of the Johnston store, HEALTH staff found pastry cream that is used in zeppoles and éclairs was stored at unsafe temperatures and there were unsanitary conditions in the store. Baked goods made at the Johnston store are sold in both locations. In addition, zeppoles were sold at all Crugnale Bakery locations.

On March 27th, the list of vendors was expanded by HEALTH to include American Bakery Supplies, a distributor in West Warwick, purchased zeppoles from DeFusco’s. The company then distributed the pastries to Roch’s Market in West Warwick; Meal Works in Coventry; and Touch of Class Catering in West Warwick. Meal Works (a catering company) served these zeppoles at events on March 17 and 18 at West Warwick Manor Senior Center, St John and Paul Church in Coventry, Sparrow Point (senior facility) in West Warwick and Crescent Park Manor in Riverside.

Zeppoles from DeFusco’s Johnston store were also sold at all DeFusco’s locations, Colvitto’s Bistro in Narragansett, Sal’s Bakery in Providence and Focaccia World in Johnston. All five Crugnale Bakery locations in Providence, East Providence, North Providence, Cranston and Cumberland also sold DeFusco’s zeppoles from March 16 through March 20.

While investigating DeFusco Bakery, HEALTH also discovered unsafe food storage practices at Buono’s Bakery in Providence. Their zeppole, cream puff and éclair shells were also stored in used egg crates, which could lead to contamination from raw eggs. People are advised to immediately discard all baked goods from any DeFusco’s, zeppoles from any of the above locations and zeppoles / cream puffs / éclairs from Buono’s Bakery in Providence.

Anyone who has eaten any of the above-mentioned products and has gotten sick (especially with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea) should contact their healthcare provider immediately for evaluation and treatment. To date, 43 illnesses (42 cases in Rhode Island and 1 case in Massachusetts) have been reported, 22 hospitalizations (all 22 of which are lab-confirmed for the same strain of Salmonella) and 1 man who tested positive for Salmonella has died. The cause of his death is not yet available.

Attorney David Szerlag is available for a free consultation regarding a DeFusco Bakery Salmonella lawsuit in Rhode Island. He is part of the Salmonella litigation team at Pritzker Olsen and is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association and Massachusetts Bar Association. Call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) to speak to David or one of our other expert Salmonella attorneys.