The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) Sanitation Branch has issued a red “closed” placard to Blue Water Shrimp and Seafood Market located at the Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu. Numerous health inspections revealed chronic temperature violations. The department has issued a penalty fee of $9,000 for the violations that led to the posting of the red placard. A yellow “conditional pass” card was issued to Blue Water Shrimp and Seafood Market on Oct. 7, and subsequent follow-up inspections on Oct. 9-16 revealed multiple violations of temperature requirements for holding perishable foods. DOH held a formal meeting with the owner of the establishment on Oct. 15 to discuss the serious nature of the establishment’s outstanding food safety violations. On Oct. 16, a follow-up inspection revealed that foods which require temperature controls, such as raw meat products, were being held above 41 degrees F. The state’s food safety rules require perishable foods be held at temperatures below 41 degrees F to control pathogenic bacterial growth and prevent the risk of foodborne illnesses, or food poisoning. The temporary suspension of the establishment’s food permit and the posting of a red “closed” placard will remain in effect until all cold holding violations are corrected and verified by a health inspection. The establishment may request an inspection when it is ready, or may request a hearing to contest the permit suspension. The state’s placarding system for food establishments began on July 21, 2014, and since that time, DOH’s Sanitation Branch has completed more than 9,068 inspections statewide under the new program. The vast majority of food establishments in Hawaii are in compliance, meet all health requirements, and have their green placard displayed. This is the second Hawaii food establishment to receive a red placard. The department recently shut down a popular Oahu bakery for temperature control violations. (To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)