Dine out with confidence.
When you eat, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting sick. That’s why we work to make sure your food is safe to eat. We work with food handlers, restaurants, and businesses to prevent foodborne illness.
What makes food unsafe to eat?
Unsafe food leads to more than 200 types of diseases. We usually can’t see or smell bacteria, viruses, or hazards in food.
Unsafe food is especially dangerous for infants, young children, elderly, pregnant, and sick people.
Some foodborne illnesses cause symptoms like:
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Fever.
Symptoms can be very serious and cause people to go to the hospital or die.
The main causes of foodborne illnesses include:
- Food from unsafe sources.
- Undercooking raw meat, eggs, fish, and shellfish.
- Not keeping cold food cold or hot food hot.
- Dirty equipment.
- Not washing hands with soap and hot water.
- Handling food when you are sick.
Report illnesses and concerns.
Use our online forms or call (253) 649-1696 to report food-related concerns or illnesses.
If you think you have a foodborne illness you should also contact your healthcare provider.
What can you do?
When you dine out:
Look for a Health Department permit posted in establishments or a decal on food trucks. Learn more about how to tell if a vendor is permitted.
Tell a manager if you see food workers:
- Touch food with bare hands.
- Leave the bathroom without washing their hands.
When you prepare food at home:
- Wash your hands and surfaces often.
- Separate raw meat from other food.
- Cook food to the right temperature.
- Chill food quickly to 41°F or below.
- Keep hot food at 135°F or above.
- Don’t prepare food for others when you’re sick.
Use our Food Safety at Home checklist to prepare, cook, serve, and refrigerate food safely.
