Skip to Main Content
How Do I?
Your Government
County Services
Safety & Justice
Home
FAQs
Search
All categories
Assessor - Annual Real Property Revaluation
Auditor - Recording
Board of Equalization
Council - Granicus Information
County Council
District Court
Executive
Facilities - Courthouse Security
Health - Drinking Water
Health - Food Safety
Health - Food Vendors / Event Vendors
Health - Food Worker Training
Health - Measles
Health - Mental Health
Health - On-Site Sewage System Program (OSS)
Health - OSS Annual Fee
Health - Point Roberts Garbage Collection Issues & Answers
Health - Rabies Prevention
Health - Solid Waste
Health - Solid Waste - Grass Clippings
Health - Substance Abuse Program
Health - Veteran's Program
Health - Water Recreation
Human Resources - Family & Medical Leave Act
Human Resources - Jobs
Human Resources - Military Leaves
Human Resources - Self-Insured Medical Plan (HMA)
Human Resources - Severe Weather
Information Technology - Geographic Information Systems
Information Technology - Records Requests
Jail Planning Task Force
Juvenile Court
Juvenile Court - Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children
Law Library
Planning & Development Services
Planning & Development Services - Building Services
Planning & Development Services - Code Enforcement
Planning & Development Services - Exempt Well/Water (Pursuant to Interim Ordinance 2016-066)
Planning & Development Services - Fire Marshal
Planning & Development Services - Green Building
Planning & Development Services - Natural Resources
Planning & Development Services - Permit Center
Planning & Development Services - Zoning
Public Defender
Public Works - Aquatic Invasive Species & the Boat Inspection Program
Public Works - Moving Permits
Public Works - Property & Records
Public Works - Septic Rebate Program
Public Works - Small Farm Improvement Rebates
Public Works - Traffic Inquiries
Public Works - Water Quality
Public Works Engineering - Development Inquiries
Superior Court - Drug Court
Treasurer
Treasurer - Property Transfers
Treasurer - Tax Payments
Treasurer - Tax Statements
WSU Extension
Categories
All Categories
Assessor - Annual Real Property Revaluation
Auditor - Recording
Board of Equalization
Council - Granicus Information
County Council
District Court
Executive
Facilities - Courthouse Security
Health - Drinking Water
Health - Food Safety
Health - Food Vendors / Event Vendors
Health - Food Worker Training
Health - Measles
Health - Mental Health
Health - On-Site Sewage System Program (OSS)
Health - OSS Annual Fee
Health - Point Roberts Garbage Collection Issues & Answers
Health - Rabies Prevention
Health - Solid Waste
Health - Solid Waste - Grass Clippings
Health - Substance Abuse Program
Health - Veteran's Program
Health - Water Recreation
Human Resources - Family & Medical Leave Act
Human Resources - Jobs
Human Resources - Military Leaves
Human Resources - Self-Insured Medical Plan (HMA)
Human Resources - Severe Weather
Information Technology - Geographic Information Systems
Information Technology - Records Requests
Jail Planning Task Force
Juvenile Court
Juvenile Court - Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children
Law Library
Planning & Development Services
Planning & Development Services - Building Services
Planning & Development Services - Code Enforcement
Planning & Development Services - Exempt Well/Water (Pursuant to Interim Ordinance 2016-066)
Planning & Development Services - Fire Marshal
Planning & Development Services - Green Building
Planning & Development Services - Natural Resources
Planning & Development Services - Permit Center
Planning & Development Services - Zoning
Public Defender
Public Works - Aquatic Invasive Species & the Boat Inspection Program
Public Works - Moving Permits
Public Works - Property & Records
Public Works - Septic Rebate Program
Public Works - Small Farm Improvement Rebates
Public Works - Traffic Inquiries
Public Works - Water Quality
Public Works Engineering - Development Inquiries
Superior Court - Drug Court
Treasurer
Treasurer - Property Transfers
Treasurer - Tax Payments
Treasurer - Tax Statements
WSU Extension
Who inspects restaurants, taverns, and grocery stores and how often are they inspected?
Staff from the Health Department inspect all retail food establishments. State law requires the Health Department to inspect each food establishment at least one time each year.
Health Department
▼
Health - Food Safety
Show All Answers
1.
Who inspects restaurants, taverns, and grocery stores and how often are they inspected?
Staff from the Health Department inspect all retail food establishments. State law requires the Health Department to inspect each food establishment at least one time each year.
Health Department
2.
Who inspects processing plants and places that sell foods wholesale?
The Washington State Department of Agriculture, The United States Department of Agriculture or the Food and Drug Administration inspect facilities that sell foods at the wholesale level.
3.
If I have a complaint about a food establishment who can I call?
If the complaint involves a retail food establishment or a food you purchased for your own use contact our office. If you purchased the food for resale, you can contact our office and we can help determine which other agency you need to contact.
Health Department
4.
What should I do if I think a meal I ate made me sick?
If the severity of your illness concerns you, contact your health care provider. They can help you with any necessary treatment. In addition, please contact our office to report the illness. Depending on what we learn from talking to you, we may help prevent other people from becoming ill.
Health Department
5.
What is the best thing I can do to prevent food-borne illness at home?
Do not prepare food for others when you are sick. Wash your hands thoroughly before you begin to prepare foods or eat foods. Wet hands. Use plenty of soap. Lather for at least 20 seconds (try singing the Happy Birthday song twice). Rinse hands. Dry hands.
Avoid bare hand contact on ready-to-eat (RTE) foods. Keep food at a safe temperature.
6.
Should I prepare food for others when I am ill?
Ill food workers frequently make others sick by preparing food. If at all possible, avoid preparing food for other people when you do not feel well.
7.
Who needs to get a food worker card?
Any person who works in a grocery store, restaurant, school cafeteria, camp kitchen, deli, tavern, or other retail food establishment and anyone who handles unwrapped food products will need to obtain a food worker card.
8.
Do I need a permit to operate a restaurant, grocery store, tavern or similar facility?
Yes, you do need a permit. You will need to apply for a permit, submit a floor plan and menu information, and pay an annual permit fee. After receiving a permit, Health Department Staff will inspect the facility to ensure safe food handling practices.
Health Department
9.
I just bought a food establishment business, what permits do I need from the Health Department?
You will need to complete a Change of Ownership Packet and obtain a food establishment permit through our office. You may return completed paperwork to our office and pay the associated fees. Contact our office to determine the cost. Next, you may schedule an inspection with a Health Department Inspector. Inspectors need a few days’ notice in order to schedule the appointment.
Health Department
10.
I am planning to open a restaurant or other food establishment in Whatcom County, what should I do first?
You will need to provide detailed construction plans and information on your proposed menu and method of food preparation. This information is included in the Plan Review Packet.
11.
What permits do I need to sell food at a fair, festival, or community event?
You need to purchase a Temporary Food Establishment Permit from our office. Please contact our office at least 2 weeks before your event, so we can process the application and issue a permit before purchasing or preparing food. For more information, please visit our Temporary Food webpage.
Temporary Food
12.
I have heard the last meal I ate is what caused my foodborne illness (food poisoning), is this true?
Except for some toxins and viruses, most harmful microorganisms take longer than a few hours to make you sick. Symptoms of foodborne illness can start anywhere from a few hours to several weeks after eating contaminated food. So don't be so quick to blame your illness on the restaurant you ate at today for lunch - you may have gotten sick from something you ate a few days ago. Contact your local health department if you suspect you have a foodborne illness or want to file a complaint about unsafe food handling practices at a restaurant.
Live Edit
Close
[]
Slideshow Left Arrow
Slideshow Right Arrow