HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The state Department of Health is investigating after a viral video posted online appeared to show rodents scurrying inside a Safeway store’s doughnut case.
The incident happened at the upscale Safeway store on Beretania Street.
Pest control experts say the video underscores the need to remain vigilant about pests.
Some shoppers told HNN on Monday that seeing the video makes them rethink what they buy.
“No! Nope,” said one shopper, who usually buys sweets at the store. “Especially if you don’t see evidence of rats and then you buy the donuts. You’re like what?”
The state Department of Health says a food safety team visited the store on Monday, after being alerted to the video online, but would not comment until their investigation is complete.
On Tuesday afternoon, Safeway sent Hawaii News Now a statement in response to the incident.
“At Safeway, food safety is a top priority, and we take this incident very seriously,” a company spokesperson said. “Our Food Safety team has been working diligently to investigate and resolve the issue to ensure customer and food safety. After remediation efforts, the store passed an inspection by the Hawaii State Department of Health.”
On Monday evening, the clear case that typically holds the store’s pastries was empty and the doughnuts were sealed in boxes for pick up. An employee told HNN, they set up traps.
“I think it should be a wake-up call to be vigilant,” said Ian Mateo, with Pest Tech Hawaii.
Mateo says any store, business, or home can be targeted by rodents, even high-end grocery stores off ground level — like the Beretania location.
It’s a lesson many stores have learned the hard way.
Waianae’s Hui On restaurant was infested in 2015 and a Chinatown market was overrun with rats in 2009, leading to community meetings on cleaning up the neighborhood.
Kilauea Pest Company says rodent control makes up nearly a fifth of its business and grocery stores are easy targets. “Trucks are coming in. Those doors are open. Rodents are going to get in no matter what sort of exclusion or if it’s a new building, rats will get in,” said John Speed, with the company.
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