The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Food Safety Branch recently issued a red placard to Café Duck Butt, requiring the establishment to close on October 8 due to food safety violations. The closure was prompted by a lack of electricity, which rendered refrigerators non-operational and compromised food safety.
A follow-up inspection on October 9 confirmed that all critical violations had been addressed after power was restored. Consequently, the DOH authorized Café Duck Butt to reopen with a green placard.
The DOH emphasized the importance of operational refrigeration equipment in food establishments. "Food establishments must close in the event of a power outage to protect customers from potential foodborne illnesses, some of which may be very severe," the department stated.
The DOH Food Safety Branch is responsible for safeguarding public health through education and regulation within the food industry across Hawai‘i. It conducts routine inspections and investigates sources of foodborne illnesses to prevent future incidents. Specialists work collaboratively with business owners and workers to maintain safe food preparation practices.
For more information about the department’s placarding program, visit http://health.hawaii.gov/san/.