KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Launched just two years ago, Public Health - Seattle & King County's restaurant inspection webpages have already been visited over 1.1 million times, ranking it in the top ten of all sites at Public Health. The site allows the public to access on-line restaurant inspection reports filed by Public Health's food safety inspectors, providing an "insider" look at food handling and food safety practices at over 10,000 food establishments in King County.

Located at www.metrokc.gov/health/foodsfty/inspections.htm, the pages were created to inform and educate the public about food service establishments in Seattle and King County so that food safety and safe food handling are better understood.

"King County's food safety program is world class," said Ron Sims, King County Executive. "The inspection website is an example of how King County is ahead of the curve when it comes to food safety and protecting the public's health."

"The website is an unique service that provides useful information to the safety-conscious restaurant customer," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "The website's popularity demonstrates the public's interest in making informed choices when selecting a restaurant, and that food safety is a top concern for King County residents."

New addition to website

New to the website and available in streaming video format is a seven minute video titled "Food Safety is in Your Hands." Produced by Public Health - Seattle & King County under a Federal Drug Administration grant, the training video explains Public Health's policy prohibiting restaurant workers from making bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods. Ready-to-eat foods are foods that will not be reheated or cooked before serving.

Nationwide, eighty percent of all food borne illness is linked to bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods, particularly when there is inadequate or non-existent handwashing after the food worker uses the restroom. Though handwashing is required after bathroom visits, it is difficult to monitor. The "no bare hand contact" policy in King County adds an additional level of safety.

The new policy, which is in effect in anticipation of a new statewide food code being adopted in 2005, requires food workers to use barriers such as gloves, tongs, or bakery tissue with all ready-to-eat foods, as well as thoroughly wash hands when required. The new video illustrates proper technique and will be used in food worker training classes. It is available in English as well as Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Russian. It is available at www.metrokc.gov/health/foodsfty/videos

In addition to viewing inspection records of permitted food establishments and viewing the new video, website visitors are also able to:

• Take a virtual "mock inspection" with a Public Health inspector
• Find out about restaurants closed by inspectors for safety violations
• Learn about safe food handling practices for home use
• Report unsafe food handling by food workers or unsafe restaurant practices

There are 10,000 permitted food establishments in Seattle and King County. The majority of these establishments have two unannounced inspections per year, as well as a third educational session. Common violations at food establishments include bare-hand contact, improper hot holding, cooling, and reheating of foods, and inadequate hand washing facilities.