White Guava Café gets go-ahead to reopen nearly month after closed for multiple food safety violations

Hawai‘i Department of Health Food Safety Branch cleared the White Guava Café to reopen, issuing the Hilo establishment a green “pass” placard Thursday (Nov. 13) during a follow-up inspection.

White Guava Café was closed until further notice after receiving a red placard in mid-October from state food safety officials because of several violations, not the least of which was a roach infestation.

The restaurant at 54 E. Pūʻainakō St. and operated by AJ & Sons Catering was initially visited just 2 days prior on Oct. 14 by a state inspector and issued a yellow “conditional” placard. It was when a state inspector followed-up Oct. 16 that the violations became truly apparent.

There were live cockroaches on food-contact surfaces, with numerous live and dead roaches in the kitchen and food storage areas.

Food was neither safe, unadulterated nor honestly presented, and food-contact equipment and surfaces were not clean to sight or touch.

Poisonous and/or toxic materials weren’t even stored somewhere that there wasn’t a possibility of contaminating food, equipment, utensils, linens and single-service and single-use items.

White Guava Café was required to correct all of the violations and submit for another inspection so the state could make sure it took the actions before it would be allowed to reopen.

Mandated corrective actions for the Hilo restaurant:

• Discard all contaminated food products.
• Hire a professional pest control operator and submit the service report to Hawai‘i Department of Health.
• 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 restaurant from weather and insects, rodents and other animals entering.
• Remove all poisonous or toxic materials from food preparation areas.

The state Health Department inspector determined during Thursday’s follow-up walk-through that all corrective actions were completed satisfactorily and the food establishment was issued its green placard.

Hawai‘i Department of Health Food Safety Branch officials protect and promote the health of Aloha State residents and visitors through education of food industry workers and regulation of food establishments statewide.

Routine health inspections of food establishments where food is prepared, manufactured, distributed or sold also are conducted by the Food Safety Branch.

View restaurant inspection reports at the Hawai‘i Department of Health website.

Get more information about the state’s placarding program online.