HONOLULU - The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Food Safety Branch issued a red placard and immediately shut down Thai Taste, located at 801 K?heka St., Unit A-7, due to a lack of working hand-washing facilities.

The food establishment, operated by Wu T. Inc., received the red placard on Aug. 29 and must remain closed until the DOH conducts a follow-up inspection and all violations are resolved.

During the routine inspection conducted on Aug. 29, the DOH inspector noted a critical violation:

- No working hand-washing facilities.

The DOH is requiring the food establishment to take the following corrective actions before it can reopen:

- Repair or replace broken hand-washing sink.

The next follow-up inspection is scheduled for Sept. 3.

The DOH Food Safety Branch protects and promotes the health of Hawai‘i residents and visitors through education of food industry workers and regulation of food establishments statewide. The branch conducts routine health inspections of food establishments where food products are prepared, manufactured, distributed or sold.

For more information on the department’s placarding program go to http://health.hawaii.gov/san/