Food workers at 4 Whatcom County eateries didn’t wash hands. Which ones?
Unwashed hands, improperly stored pork and dirty pots and pans;.
Those were a few of the health code violations discovered by Whatcom County inspectors at local restaurants during the month of April.
Whatcom County Health and Community Services inspects about 850 restaurants and other food-serving facilities each year, holding every eatery to the same high standards.
While most eateries pass their inspections with few issues, a few have health code violations that require a follow-up, re-inspection or, occasionally, permit suspension.
In April, the county inspected 91 permanent food establishments and mobile eateries.
Here’s what to know:
What do Whatcom County Health Inspectors look for?
Whatcom County Health and Community Services said it regularly inspects “restaurants, food trucks, coffee shops, bars, grocery stores and more to make sure that food is handled properly so it is safe to eat.”
The Washington State Retail Food Code outlines the rules for safely handling food that’s served to the public.
Examples of high-risk violations, which can contribute directly to foodborne illness, include:
- Cooking meats to the incorrect temperature.
- Not keeping cold food cold enough.
- Food contamination.
- Handwashing.
- Serving food that is not from an approved source.
- Worker health and hygiene.
Low-risk violations related to maintenance and sanitation are “less likely to cause illness,” Whatcom County health officials said, but must also be corrected.
What happens after Whatcom County restaurants are inspected?
According to Whatcom County health officials, inspections of restaurants and other eateries fall into the following categories:
- Approved: The eatery had zero or very few safety violations, and there is no need for follow-up.
- Follow-up required: The eatery had some violations but doesn’t need to be re-inspected. Any high-risk violations are corrected right away, and inspectors usually check in with the establishment again within 60 days.
- Re-inspection required: The eatery had many high risk or repeat violations. All high-risk violations are corrected immediately. Inspectors increase the frequency of their inspections, and the establishment is re-inspected again within 60 days.
- Permit suspension: The eatery was ordered to close immediately on a temporary basis because there was a severe health hazard such an outbreak of illness, sewage backup or lack of water. When a permit is suspended, the person who operates the establishment must attend a hearing and correct all violations, and the establishment must be re-inspected before the permit is reinstated.
You can find the results of Whatcom County restaurant inspections online on the Food Safety Inspections page.
Search by the food establishment’s name, street name or city.
What happens if an eatery needs to be re-inspected?
If an establishment is in need a follow-up or re-inspection, Whatcom County Health and Community Services pays a courtesy visit to the owners, according to Tom Kunesh, Whatcom County food safety supervisor.
During this visit, health officials go through the health codes the eatery violated and explain the steps that can be taken to correct the situation.
“It’s a little bit of a complicated process that tries to focus more on education than enforcement,” Kunesh said. “If a restaurant operator has a series of problems, we’ll order immediate correction for everything that can be quickly corrected.”
Which restaurants passed health inspections in April?
In April, a total of 80 eateries passed their health inspections with few to no violations:
Acme
- Acme Elementary School
Bellingham
- 19th Hole Cafe
- AFC Sushi at Safeway Sunset
- A’Peel Juice
- America’s Cup Coffee Shop
- Aloha Boards by Kylee
- Archer Ale House, Vendor Row
- Asian 1
- Bellis Inn
- Bellis Boba
- Bellingham Technical College cafeteria
- Bellingham Schools central kitchen
- Bon Bouche
- Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Club Demonstration Services Inc
- Costco meat department, food court, rotisserie and deli
- Daisy Cafe
- El Pollo Feo
- El Agave No. 2
- El Tapatio catering mobile
- Espresso Avellino Inc.
- Fort Bellingham Market & Deli
- Kuru Kuru Sushi
- La Russa Mexicana
- La Polina
- Lynden Dutch Bakery, Bellingham’s Farmers Market
- Haggen Barkley bakery, meat and seafood departments
- Makeworth Market
- Naan and Brew
- Neto’s Market
- Otherside Bagel Co.
- ‘Ono Kitchen & Bar
- On Rice Thai Cuisine & Spirits
- Oven Wood-Fired Pizza
- Pho & Teriyaki
- Pacific Cruises NW Victoria Star, Rosario and Salish Express
- Jalapeños Barkley Village, Downtown and Meridian location
- Jalapeños- Meridian
- Web Locker Restaurant
- Round Table Pizza
- Tino’s Pizza & Pasta Co.
- Senor Lopez Mexican Restaurant
- Slo Pitch Pub
- Subway No. 57892
- Structures Brewing, Holly Street.
- Storia Cucina
- Street Dogz
- Safeway at Sunset, China Express
- Zen Sushi & Bar
Blaine
- GLM Wine Co.
- Koa Table
- Namaste
- Birch Bay Village Pro Shop
Deming
- Golden Ranch Farm
Everson
- Coffee Girls
- Everson Elementary School
- JT’s Smokin BBQ
- Samson Estates Winery
Glacier
- Graham’s Store
Lynden
- Bellwood Acres Inc.
- Chandara House
- Mi Pueblito Taqueria
- Rusty Wagon Old Tyme Food & Beverage Co.
- Rustic Bar & Grill
- Popular LLC
- Subway
- Woods Coffee Bakery
Nooksack
- Juanita’s
- Nooksack Valley Middle School
- Three Flavors Kitchen
- Valley Tap House
Sumas
- Sumas Market
What restaurants need to be re-inspected in Whatcom County?
A total of 11 eateries in Whatcom County will need to have follow-up inspections due to a high volume of health code violations.
“Our goal is to complete follow-up inspections within 60 days after the routine (inspection),” Kunesh told The Bellingham Herald.
Here’s what health inspectors found: Tadeo’s Authentic Mexican Food, 207 East Holly St. in Bellingham, had four health code violations on April 7.
At the time of inspection, there was no certified food protection manager on staff.
Three trays of menudo were improperly cooled, and had to be thrown away.
The inspector could not detect any residual chlorine sanitizer in the dishwasher following a completed cycle, and there was too much bleach in the restaurant’s wiping cloth bucket.
As of Friday, May 22, Tadeo’s Authentic Mexican Food had not been reinspected. Restaurant representatives could not be reached for comment.
YunGaNe Korean Restaurant, 1204 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham, had 11 health code violations on April 8.
A Whatcom County health inspector observed a food worker fail to wash their hands prior to preparing drinks for consumers after seating them down with menu items. The same worker used a cup to scoop ice directly from the ice bin.
A different food worker did not wash their hands before putting on gloves to peel carrots or coming to the back from waiting in the front part of the restaurant.
Meanwhile, food workers did not wash hands after putting containers of food away in the coolers, then donned gloves to handle various food items.
A food worker also grabbed carrots out of a bag and peeled them without washing them first.
Food workers were preparing raw chicken in the produce preparation area alongside employees peeling carrots. Meanwhile, the raw meat prep area was used to store personal items and personal food.
Various raw and cooked foods were not labeled with dates indicating when they were made, and other foods lacked time labels.
Packaged raw meat was stored above packaged raw whole pork chops, and raw pork chops were stored above a sealed box of kimchee.
Various tongs, pots, pans and other food contact equipment were “not visibly cleaned to sight or touch,” the April 8 report said.
YunGaNe representatives told The Bellingham Herald that all violations have been corrected as the restaurant awaits reinspection.
Fairway Café, 1726 Front St. in Lynden, had one health code violation on April 9.
The restaurant’s consumer advisory did not indicate to consumers which foods were served raw or undercooked.
Restaurant officials told The Herald that Fairway Cafe’s owner has been in contact with the health department and corrected the error.
The restaurant had not been inspected as of Friday.
Border Town Mexican Grill, 538 Peace Portal Drive in Blaine, had three health code violations on April 9.
A Whatcom County health inspector witnessed a food worker crack eggs into a bowl and change their gloves without washing their hands before putting on new gloves.
The same bowl was used throughout the day for whipping eggs without being washed between uses.
The handwashing sink closest to the cashier station had been removed.
Border Town representatives told the Herald that Whatcom County approved the removal of the sink because the kitchen space was too small to house two sinks. They said other violations had been corrected.
As of Friday, the restaurant was awaiting reinspection.
The Welcome Store, 5565 Mt Baker Highway in Deming, had four health code violations on April 10.
Gravy in a crockpot and bacon on a flat top grill were not at the proper holding temperature, and were voluntarily discarded.
Soft serve mix in the ice cream machine measured too warm to be considered safe, as did cream cheese and sandwiches in coolers.
No date marking system was being used for foods at high risk for listeria, including hard-boiled eggs and milk.
As of Friday, the store had yet to be reinspected. Store representatives could not be reached Friday for comment.
McKay’s Taphouse, 1118 East Maple St. in Bellingham, had two health code violations on April 10.
The restaurant was not able to produce food protection manager certification at the time of inspection.
A Whatcom County health inspector saw a food worker cut a lime and place it on a drink with their bare hands.
The McKay’s Taphouse manager told the Herald that the restaurant had addressed concerns and began training while awaiting reinspection.
Subway, 1 Bellis Fair Pkwy, Suite No. 521, in Bellingham, had four health code violations on April 16.
The food worker on site was unable to produce a copy of his food worker card.
Containers of deli meats in the walk-in cooler did not have any date marking or labeling.
Meatballs and marinara sauce measured too cool to be considered safe, while veggie patties and beef steaks were too warm.
Subway had not been reinspected as of Friday.
The Herald was not able to reach anyone for comment on Friday.
Our Diner, 5962 Guide Meridian in Bellingham, had one health code violation on April 17.
A food worker came back from using the restroom and did not wash their hands before putting gloves on and starting food service.
As of Friday, Our Diner could not be reached for comment. The restaurant had yet to be reinspected.
Mount Bakery, 1217 Harris Ave. in Bellingham, had four health code violations on April 20.
Polenta stored in a countertop steam table measured outside of the range considered safe.
Hollandaise sauce was stored at room temperature without a time-as-a-public-control label.
The deli slicer had built-up food residue on the blade and carriage. A food worker cleaned it during the visit.
The Herald reached out to Mount Bakery for comment Friday, but couldn’t reach anyone. The eatery had yet to undergo reinspection.
Bellingham Technical College Culinary Arts, 3028 Lindbergh Ave in Bellingham, had two health code violations on April 23.
A food worker handled raw crab with gloved hands during the breading and frying process, then changed gloves without washing their hands.
The college did not appropriately maintain logs for certain foods.
Bellingham Technical College could not be reached Friday for comment. It has yet to be reinspected.
Starvin Sam’s III, 102 West Columbia in Nooksack, had two health code violations on April 23.
Handwashing sinks in the dishwashing area and near the fryer were not stocked with soap.
There was no date marking system for foods at high risk of listeria.
As of Friday, the convenience store had not been reinspected. Representatives could not be reached for comment.