Unsanitary conditions shutter bakery

The state Health Department has shut down Molokai’s Kanemitsu’s Bakery over unsanitary conditions.

The department said Wednesday in a news release that the permit for the bakery, at 79 Ala Malama St., has been suspended and the bakery will remain closed until operations can be brought into compliance with health codes.

The state said that on June 15 it received an anonymous complaint that "insects and foreign substances" were found in bread rolls purchased from Kanemitsu. A follow-up investigation of the bakery by health officials occurred on June 20. Health officials met with owner George Kanemitsu on Monday and issued the suspension.

The bakery also has pending violations that resulted in the state issuing a $90,000 penalty for unsanitary conditions found during routine inspections conducted in March.

"The inspection on June 20 revealed serious deficiencies in the maintenance and manufacturing practices conducted at the facility including: visual sighting of rodents during the inspection, no water available at the rinse compartment of the sink, unclean food preparation surfaces, no soap and hand towels at hand washing sinks, and general unsanitary conditions," the Health Department said.

The restaurant portion of Kanemitsu’s remains open and was not included in the permit suspension because it operates from a separate, permitted kitchen.