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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 two (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 Food Permits webpage.

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.