Got sick, had a bad experience eating at a Bellingham restaurant? Here’s how to report it
Have you ever enjoyed a nice meal at a restaurant, only to get home later that evening to find yourself bent over in pain and spending more time with the toilet than with your family? Or perhaps you’ve been enjoying a nice meal at a restaurant before noticing something that absolutely violates Washington State Retail Food Code.
Whatever the problem, something’s not how it’s supposed to be.
Fortunately, it’s easy in Washington to report a food code or poisoning violation.
The Washington State Department of Health oversees food safety regulations, such as implementing the Food Protection Program, which outlines the standards and guidelines for safe foot storage and handling in Washington.
But the responsibility for enforcing food regulations and performing inspections falls to Washington’s 35 local health departments. Bellingham falls under the jurisdiction of the Whatcom County Health and Community Services.
“Typically, a public health official will call the person who filed the report to ask clarifying questions or to notify them their concern was received and to explain the next steps,” Washington State Department of Health spokesperson Kara Kostanich told the Bellingham Herald.
“Questions vary widely based on what the person is reporting,” Kostanich continued. “As an example, a public health professional may ask further questions to determine the severity of unsanitary conditions. Or they may ask the person about symptoms and a 3-day meal history if they are reporting an illness.”
Reporting food poisoning or violations
Different departments within Whatcom County are responsible for overseeing different types of food vendors.
For example, Whatcom County Health and Community Services is responsible for inspecting most local restaurants and other vendors, while the Washing State Department of Social and Health Services oversees nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Regardless of who conducts the review, you can view a database of all Whatcom County food inspections online.
If you visit a restaurant and become sick from eating there or notice any other food violations, you can directly report it to Whatcom County Health and Community Services. Here’s how:
Online complaint
Fill out the department’s online form.
Email the Food Safety Program at environmentalhealth@whatcomcounty.us with information about the restaurant where the violation occurred and your experience
Photos can be attached to the email if necessary
Phone complaint
Call the Food Safety Program at (360) 778-6000
After the complaint
Watch your phone or email as a health official will reach out
Be prepared to answer specific questions about the violation and food items you’ve eaten up to three days before becoming ill.
Once a complaint is filed, public health officials will either call the business, conduct an inspection, or conduct an illness investigation if an illness was reported. The Department of Health is also developing an online system that will log all complaints into a single database accessible by all health departments, Kostanich said.
How to identify food poisoning
Food poisoning typically comes from swallowing certain germs that contaminate foods, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two of the most common germs are Salmonella and E. Coli, and dependent on which germ you swallow, food poisoning can last from hours to days.
According to the CDC, some of the most common symptoms of food poisoning are:
Diarrhea
Stomach pain or cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever
The CDC recommends drinking plenty of fluids to keep you hydrated during food poisoning. But there are more severe symptoms that the CDC recommends seeing a doctor for if they persist:
Bloody diarrhea
Diarrhea that lasts for more than three days
Fever with a temperature over 102 degrees
Vomiting so often you can’t keep fluids down
Signs of dehydration include not frequently urinating, dry mouth, and dizziness when standing up.
This story was originally published May 30, 2023 at 12:01 PM.
