by Leigh Goessl

Created on: March 17, 2013

A New-Jersey based bakery is in hot water after it was caught selling foods containing sugar but had been allegedly labeled as sugar-free. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has shut down the bakery until it can meet federal regulations.

The move to close the bakery was approved by a federal judge. Judge Dennis M. Cavanaugh of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey signed the order on March 5, 2013.

The injunction against the Butterfly Bakery and its president, Brenda Isaac, will stay in effect until the bakery, located in Clifton, N.J., can comply with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) and applicable regulations, said the FDA in a press release.

“This injunction demonstrates that the FDA will seek enforcement action against companies that mislead consumers on the products they purchase,” said Melinda K. Plaisier, the FDA’s acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. “Until Butterfly Bakery meets FDA regulations, it will no longer be able to process or distribute their products.”  

Officials say they have been testing samples from the Butterfly Bakery for years now, noting that lab analysis found that foods labeled "fat-free" and "sugar-free" and sold by the bakery showed high amounts of fat and sugar contained in the food items.

The bakery had been operational since 1998 and had marketed selling great-tasting foods that were healthier for the diet.

"One of the worst offenders was the company’s No Sugar Added Blueberry Muffin, which had a saturated fat content 360 percent more than what appeared on the label," ABC News had reported, "Their Sugar Free Double Chocolate Chip Muffin was even worse, with 444 percent more saturated fat than what was listed on the label."

Reportedly, the Butterfly Bakery said in a statement it was voluntarily following the FDA's guidelines and would address the problems, pointing out three of 45 products are only under scrutiny for misleading labeling.

“Butterfly Bakery wants to assure all of its customers that we take continuous pride in the integrity of our products while practicing good manufacturing and ensuring the safety and quality of our products,” the company said in its statement.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Butterfly Bakery had been warned in 2011 about mislabeling of its snacks.

That letter had said, "You should take prompt action to correct the violations described above and prevent their future recurrence. Failure to do so may result in enforcement action without further notice. Such action may include, but is not limited to, seizure or injunction."

Based on the more recent developments, the bakery will be closed down until further notice.

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