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Phone: 206-296-4600
TTY Relay: 711

Toll-free: 800-325-6165

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Instructions to submit a Public Records Request

The Public Health food inspection reporting system

food worker
 The restaurant inspection reporting system
Food establishments that sell or serve food to the public must get an annual permit and be inspected by Public Health - Seattle & King County.
searching the web for food inspection histories
 Search for King County restaurant inspection records
Search for historical inspection records of any of the approximately 10,500 food establishments in King County.

How to access public data sets of inspection records
For access to restaurant inspection data in a row-oriented format please go to www.datakc.org and search for 'restaurant'. If you are a developer and want to retreive this data programatically in an XML format, click here for more information.
Food establishment closures Current food establishment closures
Public Health lists the reason the establishment was closed, whether it has been reopened, and the date it reopened. Reasons for closing a food establishment can vary and include such issues as failure to follow the permit process and unsafe food handling.

When and why Public Health closes a food establishment
Public Health - Seattle & King County helps food establishments keep the risk of food borne illness low through education and inspections. Safe food handling practices address two basic causes of food borne illness: contamination and temperature control.
checklist How to report unsafe food practices
If you witness possible unsafe food handling practices at a food establishment, contact us immediately. All complaints to the Health Department are held in high confidence to protect your privacy.

How to report possible foodborne illness
If you or others in your party got sick and you think it might have been from food prepared at a King County food service establishment, please call us.
Public Health Food Inspector, Chris Skilton takes you on a mock food inspection tour Mock food inspection tour
Go on a virtual tour with a Public Health food inspector to learn how an inspection is conducted and what Public Health looks for when investigating a food establishment.
Washing hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds to kill germs Good food handling practices
At each step in the flow of food through a food service establishment there are general food safety procedures that should be followed to help reduce the risk of contamination and mishandling and that could consequently lead to foodborne illness outbreaks.