GFL Tea LLC’s Sun Tea Mix shop in Honolulu has been fined $2,000 by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) Food Safety Branch. The penalty follows the shop’s removal of a required yellow “conditional pass” placard, which informs customers about compliance with health regulations, according to a DOH press release.
During a routine inspection on July 30, a DOH inspector found several violations at Sun Tea Mix, including no valid food handler on duty, a blocked handwashing sink, cross-contamination, ineffective chlorine sanitizer, and water below 110°F for manual dishwashing. A yellow placard was placed at the entrance that day. On August 2, Sun Tea Mix removed the placard, violating the Hawaiʻi Food Safety Code.
"Placards provide important information on a food establishment’s compliance with health and safety requirements. Placard removal is a serious violation,” said Peter Oshiro, environmental health program manager, in a DOH statement. Since the placarding program began, compliance has been high, with this incident marking the eighth case of placard tampering. The yellow placards alert customers to a restaurant’s compliance status.
Sun Tea Mix has 20 days to request a hearing to contest the notice. Only DOH agents are authorized to post or remove placards. The DOH Food Safety Branch conducts inspections across Hawaiʻi to ensure establishments follow safe food preparation and sanitary practices. This incident highlights the importance of maintaining food safety standards.
