NEW CASTLE, Pa. - An inspection conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at a New Castle bakery revealed multiple health violations, according to a report.

An inspection report on the Department of Agriculture's website lists six violations found during an inspection at Bill's Bake Shoppe on N. Liberty Street in New Castle on Friday, March 6.

The following six violations were reported:

1. The facility is not using an approved detergent-sanitizer in both compartments of the two-compartment manual warewashing equipment

2. Mice droppings and a contaminated bag of bread crumbs were seen in the front serving area. The bag of bread crumbs was thrown out.

3. The person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety in the facility

4. The facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or kits to determine the appropriate sanitizer concentration

5. Mice feces were found on the sheeter equipment, shelving and the floor in the main baking room, storage closet and dry grain storage in the backroom

6. Non-food contact surfaces were not cleaned enough to preclude an accumulation of dirt, rodent droppings, dead bugs and soil.

According to the report, violations 2 and 3 were corrected on the day of the inspection. The bakery was given until March 20 to correct the remaining four violations.

A follow-up inspection will be conducted in the next seven to 10 days. The bakery's food license will not be renewed until it is found to be back in compliance.

The bakery could face an inspection fee of $150 or $300 if a second or third inspection is necessary for the bakery to achieve compliance. 

According to the Department of Agriculture, this is not the first time the bakery was out of compliance.

Past inspections show the bakery was found to be out of compliance as recently as February 19, 2026. It was also found to be out of compliance on June 11, 2025 and July 2, 2025. An inspection on July 23, 2025 showed that the bakery was back in compliance.

Bill's Bake Shoppe responded to 21 News, stating that the longtime bakery is dealing with issues, including recent health concerns for the owner, and said the sanitary violations were in non-food-contact areas, such as the unused basement.

They also said that the building was "a little messy" because the shop had an exterminator scheduled for the same date as the inspector showed up, despite previous non-compliance findings.