The state Department of Health has fined the owners of Iyo Udon restaurant at Ala Moana Center $11,000 for intentionally removing a yellow "conditional pass" placard and for food safety violations during a health inspection.
The department conducted the inspection Aug. 22 and issued the yellow placard, which occurs if there are two or more major violations observed. The restaurant is owned by Iyo Seimen USA Inc.
"Placard removal is a serious violation with substantial consequences because this act intentionally places profit above health and safety and compromises the public’s trust and their right to know when violations occur during an inspection," said Peter Oshiro, the department’s Sanitation, Food and Drug, and Vector Control Branch manager.
"Since the start of the new placarding program, we’ve seen excellent compliance with the food industry; this is our first incident involving tampering with a placard."
The department in July began posting color-coded placards at Oahu restaurants to display health inspection status. There are 10,000 food establishments statewide, which include restaurants, hotels, caterers, markets, food warehouses, convenience stores, food wagons, pushcarts and institutional kitchens.
Only authorized department agents may post or remove a color-coded placard indicating the compliance status of a food establishment.
According to the department, Iyo Udon was cited for improper employee health and hygiene violations including employees not properly their washing hands, hand-washing conducted in sinks reserved for food preparation, hand-washing sinks blocked and inaccessible, no soap or paper towels available at hand-washing areas, ready-to-eat foods not protected from cross-contamination by raw uncooked foods, and no sanitizer used to disinfect dishes.
The company may request a hearing to contest the notice.
A follow-up inspection was conducted Aug. 25, and Iyo Udon corrected the violations and received a green placard, which is posted at the facility.
A green card goes to facilities that have one major violation or less that is corrected before the inspection is completed.
