Honolulu – The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) issued a red placard and immediately shut down Delice Crepes (lunch wagon), located at 66-472 Kamehameha Hwy in Haleʻiwa. This action was taken due to the absence of functioning hand-washing stations inside the food truck. During an inspection conducted on March 21, 2024, to address a complaint, a DOH inspector noted a critical violation regarding the hand-washing facilities.
In response to the violation, a follow-up inspection was carried out on March 22, 2024. Following the necessary corrective actions taken by the establishment, it was approved to reopen for business.
The DOH Food Safety Branch, responsible for safeguarding the health of Hawaiʻi residents and visitors, works towards this goal through educating food industry workers and regulating food establishments across the state. Routine health inspections are conducted by the branch in food establishments where food products are prepared, manufactured, distributed, or sold.
The DOH's placarding program aims to inform the public about the health and safety status of food establishments. For more information on the department’s placarding program, individuals can visit http://health.hawaii.gov/san/.
The importance of maintaining proper hygiene standards in food establishments cannot be overstated. As stated by the DOH Food Safety Branch, "The single sink inside mobile unit designated for hand washing was not operational. There were no other hand-washing options available inside the unit."
The swift actions taken by the DOH serve as a reminder of the critical role played by regulatory bodies in ensuring food safety and public health.
For more details, the original news release in PDF format can be accessed at the provided link.