In an effort to distance itself from a deadly salmonella outbreak, Betta Maid sought independent testing of its products including frozen cheesecake, blueberry muffins, unfilled eclairs and had rodent faeces analysed.
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Melbourne-based DTS Food Laboratories tested eight samples from Betta Maid on February 19, the day after the Unanderra factory was shut down for several hours by the NSW Food Authority over hygiene and pest control issues.
Salmonella was not detected in any of the eight samples - including the faeces - by the independent laboratory.
However, four environmental samples taken by the Food Authority on February 17 have since tested positive for salmonella - including one positive result for bovismorbificans, the rare strain linked to the recent outbreak at aged-care facilities in the region.
Eight food samples supplied by the bakery from affected facilities also tested positive for salmonella and results should soon identify whether or not it is the same rare strain.
Thirty-one people at 10 aged-care homes operated or supplied by IRT have so far contracted the food-borne illness; two have since died.
NSW Health and the NSW Food Authority have been investigating since the first case was reported on January 21.
The aged-care facilities and other food providers have been investigated and cleared of salmonella.
Betta Maid, which supplies products to school canteens and for fund-raising pie and cake drives, has declined to comment to the Mercury but it has released the independent test results to clients.
At least two schools in the region have taken Betta Maid products off their canteen menus.
Another school, which the Mercury has chosen not to name, is investigating its P&C's plans to continue with a lamington drive sourced by Betta Maid.
The P&C president has written to committee members urging them to continue to support the fund-raiser and show support for the business, rather than be influenced by "media reports".
He attached the test results, but did not respond to media inquiries about whether he held concerns about food safety and hygiene - especially in light of the rodent faeces sample.
Meanwhile, the school distanced itself from the P&C's actions on Thursday.
A Department of Education (DEC) spokeswoman said schools and the department "do not necessarily always support or agree with the views of a school's P&C president or committee members".
"In this case [the school] supports the decision to delay the school's lamington drive and reserves the right to cancel the fund-raiser altogether in the future," the spokeswoman said.
"Neither the school nor the DEC questions the reporting in the Illawarra Mercury on this issue to date. The school does not have any affiliation with Betta Maid other than a regular customer supplier relationship for specific fund-raising events."
The DEC spokeswoman said families wishing to withdraw from the lamington drive fund-raiser would have their money returned to them in full.
The school would undertake any directions provided by NSW Health or the NSW Food Authority on this matter.
No such directions about the bakery's produce have been given to the Education Department at this stage, however, the Food Authority did tell IRT to discontinue using the products as a precaution.
IRT chief executive Nieves Murray said on Thursday that "following discussions with the Food Authority, we are confident that measures we have put in place have been effective in containing the outbreak".
"The safety of our residents is our No 1 priority and we have worked hard to minimise any risk to them."
Ms Murray said IRT had taken high-risk food items off its menus as a precaution but it would "endeavour to return to full menu service as soon as possible".
The Mercury has raised issues with the Food Authority about the safety of Betta Maid products considering test results confirmed traces of the rare strain of salmonella at the factory.
The Food Authority declined to answer specific questions and would not be drawn on why the Unanderra Betta Maid factory was issued with a clearance certificate while test results were still pending.
A spokeswoman said if anyone had concerns for their health they should contact their medical practitioner in the first instance.
She said there had been no reports of illness in the wider community relating to consumption of food from the bakery and subsequent Betta Maid product samples had tested negative for salmonella.
Food safety concerns or complaints should be directed to local councils or the NSW Food Authority helpline on 1300 552 406.
