Café in Hilo shuts down after state inspection reveals roach infestation, food safety violations

A roach infestation and multiple food safety violations forced the immediate shutdown of White Guava Café in Hilo.

The food establishment, operated by AJ & Sons Catering, a limited liability company, received a red placard on Oct. 16 from the Hawai‘i Department of Health and must remain closed until the state agency conducts a follow-up inspection and all critical violations are resolved.

The café, located at 54 E. Pūʻainakō St., was initially visited by state inspectors on Oct. 14 where it received a yellow “conditional” placard. The state agency followed up on Oct. 16 discovered the following violations:

• Live cockroaches on food-contact surfaces
• Numerous live and dead cockroaches within the kitchen and food storage areas
• Food was neither safe, unadulterated, nor honestly presented
• Food-contact equipment and surfaces were not clean to sight and touch
• Poisonous or toxic materials are not stored so they cannot contaminate food, equipment, utensils, linens and single-service and single-use articles.

The Department of Health is requiring the food establishment to take the following corrective actions:

• Discard all contaminated food products
• Hire a professional pest control operator and submit the service report to the DOH
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect all food and non-food contact surfaces
• Remove unnecessary equipment and supplies to prevent harborage sites
• Repair broken frame of back door leading to kitchen to protect the establishment from the weather and the entry of insects, rodents and other animals
• Remove all poisonous or toxic materials from food prep areas

The establishment is required to remain closed for business until all violations have been corrected and a follow-up inspection has been conducted. The operator will contact the Department of Health for a follow-up inspection when all violations have been corrected.

For more information on the department’s placarding program go to the Food Safety Branch website. For more information about current establishment inspections, click here.