Food Safety

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Food Safety

Director: Keith Higman

 

Public Health Food Safety
Permitting, Inspections, Illness Prevention and Investigation


Skagit County Public Health Department's Food Safety Program is responsible for inspecting and permitting retail food service establishments (FSE). Our mission is to prevent illnesses caused by improper preparation of food through foodworker education, consumer education, disease investigation, and inspections of everything from restaurants to high school concession stands.

Food Establishment Definitions

Be aware of Food Safety Recalls

Food Handler Cards and Training
Annual Food Service Permits
Restaurants, Espresso Stands, Stores, Mobiles
Temporary Food Services Permits
Food Borne Illness Information

Skagit County Public Health takes complaints regarding foodborne illness and food safety seriously. If you believe that you have become ill from something you ate, we would like to know! Contact your health care provider if your symptoms are serious. Report online using the new statewide Foodborne Illness Notification System (FINS) or call us at 360-416-1500.

Consumer Food Safety
Food Safety in Emergencies
Retail Food Safety NEWS
Food Code Updates - Chapter 246-215 WAC

FOOD CODE UPDATES

On March 1, 2022, an updated version of the Washington State Food Code became effective. This page will provide information on those changes. For even more information, see the Washington State Department of Health's Food Safety Rules and Regulations.

Please see the Active Managerial Control Materials available on the Department of Health website for more information about these new changes. You can find templates, handouts, and other useful information now in English, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean, Russian, Somali, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

DATE MARKING

There are some specific foods that will need to be marked and used within seven days. Those foods are refrigerated, ready-to-eat, perishable foods that are prepared in-house or in open packages. This applies only to foods that will be held in the establishment for more than 24 hours. Written labels on food containers, day dots, or other systematic procedures that effectively track the expiration of foods are acceptable.

The day of preparation counts as day one. If you combine any ingredients that are date marked, you must continue to use the earliest date for the new product. If a food item has been cooled on-site and will be held in the establishment for more than 24 hours, date marking will be required, starting with the first day of cooling.

Below are some other examples of foods that require date marking, as well as some exceptions:




REFILLABLE/REUSABLE CONTAINERS

The new code allows for containers to be refilled or reused if certain requirements are met. There are different requirements for containers that are provided by the food establishment or containers that are brought in by the customer.





TRAINING VIDEOS AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

State Department of Health and the Washington Hospitality Association produced some short training videos covering the major food code updates. These videos are available for viewing by anyone on the Washington Hospitality Association website Quick Bites- Feb, 17, 2022


SKAGIT COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH

301 Valley Mall Way, Suite 110
Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Phone (360) 416-1500
EH@co.skagit.wa.us