When you’re eating out, you don’t want to worry that the food you eat will make you sick. That’s why we inspect places that serve food in Whatcom County. You can search the results of food safety inspections for any restaurant or other food service establishment that we inspect.
The Washington State Retail Food Code outlines the rules in Washington State for safely handling food that is served to the public. If a food establishment doesn’t follow these rules, it can put your health at risk. Some violations of the food code can put you at greater risk for foodborne illness (sometimes called food poisoning).
High-risk violations (red violations) are things that can contribute directly to foodborne illness. Examples include:
Low risk violations (blue violations) are items related to maintenance and sanitation. These items must be corrected but are less likely to cause illness.
The Washington State Board of Health adopted proposed changes to the Retail Food Code (246-215 WAC, Food Service). The majority of the provisions became effective on March 1, 2022. Please see the video and handout links below to learn more about specific topics:
Code Revision Topic | Video Materials | Printed Resources |
---|---|---|
Date Marking | Video PowerPoint with Notes (PDF) | WCHD Handout (PDF) DOH Toolkit (PDF) |
Employee Health | Video PowerPoint with Notes (PDF) | WCHD Handout (PDF) FDA Employee Health handbook |
Vomit and Diarrhea Cleanup | Video PowerPoint with Notes (PDF) | WCHD Handout (PDF) DOH Toolkit (PDF) |
Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) | Video PowerPoint with Notes (PDF) | WCHD Handout (PDF) |
Food Specific Changes | Video PowerPoint with Notes (PDF) | |
Using Refillable Containers | Video PowerPoint with Notes (PDF) | DOH Toolkit (PDF) |
Dogs in Outside and Inside Seating Areas | Video PowerPoint with Notes (PDF) | WCHD Handout (PDF) DOH Toolkit (PDF) |
Visit these websites for more information:
Food inspectors observe and record how food is handled on a Food Establishment Inspection Report. They look for:
Inspectors record any violations of the rules that they see, and the operator receives a summary of findings and required corrective actions.
An inspection result tells you how well the establishment performed in the inspection and if it was necessary to correct food safety violations. There are four types of inspection results:
Email
Phone: 360-778-6000
Fax: 360-778-6001
Address
509 Girard Street
Bellingham, WA 98225