Dough and standards rise at Zomick’s

Moshe Kaff is very proud of the thousands of the 200 different items ranging from breads to cookies to cakes at his Inwood-based Zomick’s Food Products bakery on Inip Drive produces on a weekly basis.

Despite the company’s troubling inspection record — the New York State Agricultural Department has failed them in the 10 out of the last 17 inspections — Kaff stands by his products and took the Herald on a walking tour of the 30,000-square-foot facility on July 18.

“We have an aggressive program for cleanliness and safety,” said Kaff, adding that Zomick’s is now working with Westchester-based Arnie Flakowitz Associates, a food safety consultant.

Zomick’s passed an inspection by the state Agricultural Department conducted on Tuesday, Kaff said. Department spokesman Joe Morrissey confirmed that was accurate.

Zomick’s had passed an Agricultural Department inspection on Feb. 23, but previously failed two prior inspections in October and July 2012. The October failure was due to beetles being found in recently delivered cornmeal bags. Thirteen, 50-pound bags were found and destroyed by the inspectors. Kaff said that the bags were still on a skid by the loading dock and were never placed on warehouse shelves.

“We have worked to rectify the problems,” said Nat Lan, a manager who has been with the company for four years. “We care about the cleanliness and quality of the food products. We oversee every step of production.”

As he walked through the plant, Kaff explained how the workers wear gloves and hair nets. Bearded men such as Kaff also wear a net around their beards. Hair nets were worn by the Herald reporters throughout the tour.

Three shifts of employees work 24 hours, six days a week producing the kosher breads, cookies, cakes and pastries that are sold nationwide. Kaff said that 90 people work at the Inwood plant, including office staff. There is morning production on Fridays, then the ovens and preparations areas are shutdown for cleaning, he said.

Since 1995, Kaff is the third owner of a business that was founded in 1966. Originally in Far Rockaway, Zomick’s had a Cedarhurst store and then moved into the Inwood location in 2005. Now Zomick’s products are found throughout the Five Towns and are distributed to stores and supermarkets from coast to coast.

Like many businesses in the Five Towns area, Zomick’s suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy. In the “seven digits,” according to Kaff, who said the bakery was closed for one week after the Oct. 29 storm.

On Thursday afternoon of the tour, cakes were being prepared for baking, challah was braided and baked, cookies received icing before being placed in the oven and the packing department boxed up several orders.

In spite of the recent inspection record, Kaff is adamant that his products don’t pose a health threat. “I know we are selling safe products,” he said.