Aloha Sushi did not sell tainted ahi, but ABC Stores says it may have

The state Department of Health said today that Aloha Sushi at 3131 N. Nimitz Highway did not sell the frozen raw ahi that was contaminated with hepatitis A.

An earlier version of this story said that the ABC store at 205 Lewers St. didn’t sell the fish, either, but ABC Stores is now saying it is possible.

In a news release issued this afternoon, ABC Stores says the the ahi poke prepared and offered for sale at its Lewers Street location on Sunday may have been tainted.

On Monday, after being notified of the tainted fish, the kitchen was sanitized and inspected by the Department of Health, which allowed the store to resume its normal operation, according to the company.

ABC Stores’ President and CEO Paul Kosasa released this statement: “As we stated previously, the health and well being of our customers and employees are of utmost importance. We would like to assure our customers that our food handlers practice strict food service sanitation procedures that meet all Department of Health requirements.”

Customers may return to the store for a refund, the company said. Call ABC Stores at 591-2550 if there are any questions.

As for Aloha Sushi, a department news release quotes Shawn Tanoue, president of distributor Tropic Fish Hawaii LCC:

“We apologize for our mistake identifying Aloha Sushi as a food establishment that used the imported ahi recalled by our company yesterday. The information we reported to the Department of Health was incorrect and Aloha Sushi did not serve or sell our product that tested positive for hepatitis A.”

The information was provided by distributor Tropic Fish Hawaii as part of state reporting requirements for food safety, the department said.

The fish was delivered between Thursday and Monday to 10 other stores and restaurants, including Times Supermarkets in Aiea, Kailua, Kaneohe, Kunia, Liliha, Mililani, Waipahu and at Shima’s Supermarket in Waimanalo.