Update 12-11-15 4:58 p.m.: Westlake Chipotle approved for re-opening. This restaurant’s permit was suspended because hot food was not being kept above 130 degrees. Temperature control problems are fixed. UPDATE 12/10/15, 4:57 pm: Since the closures in November, our Food Safety Program has monitored all Chipotle restaurants closely, providing routine inspections. During this time nine Chipotle restaurants […]
The Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in conjunction with local health officials, are currently investigating a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 cases that has been connected to Costco chicken salad. One case has been reported in Washington state. This person, a King County resident, is a […]
Today, members of our food inspection team and our epidemiology team met with a delegation of hygiene and food professionals from Japan to exchange ideas about food safety. The group, which consisted of representatives from government and industry, shared how food safety laws work at the local level in both countries and how food safety […]
We are not here to scare you. But those urban legends you’ve heard about rats in toilets? They’re (at least partially) true. Rats in toilets – what are the odds? It is very unlikely that you will find a rat in your toilet. The City of Seattle is estimated to have about 2.5 million toilets, […]
On Tuesday, September 21, Public Health staff, along with partners from the Washington Department of Health, participated in a drill to help us practice emergency response. During a drill, we are given an initial scenario along with frequent “injects,” or new curve balls that require a reaction, to make the experience more true to life. […]
Last year, our local health department worked intensively with King County healthcare systems and our community in response to the ongoing, unprecedented Ebola outbreak. Our director of communicable diseases, Dr. Jeff Duchin (now also health officer), was a leading figure in our local Ebola preparedness and response activities. At the national level, he worked with […]
