TL;DR Version: Restaurants and food vendors in Seattle and King County got shut down in 2023 so far from things like lack of valid permits to operate their food businesses, and "food from unapproved sources”, to “red critical” violations.

Just like kids get graded on their tests in school, restaurant owners get graded on a scale of 0 to healthy operations. Sometimes, restaurants can get shut down if they fail a routine inspection from their county Health District. In 2023, King County closed some 40 restaurants and food trucks.

WHY WERE KING COUNTY RESTAURANTS CLOSED AFTER HEALTH INSPECTION?

These restaurant health standards are vital to keep customers from getting potentisl bacterial infections that can cause anything from stomach discomfort to mild diarrhea or, worst case scenario, fatal food poisoning.

King County city restaurants that got shut down in 2023 were located in:

• Auburn
• Bothell
• Burien
• Carnation
• Issaquah
• Kent
• Sea-Tac
• Seattle
• Tukwila

CAN YOU GUESS THE #1 REASON RESTAURANTS WERE SHUT DOWN IN KING COUNTY THIS YEAR?

In 2023, the most popular reason for a restaurant or food vendor getting shut down by the Health District was lack of proper permit.

King County Public Health will get shut down a restaurant, food cart, or food booth immediately when the following is present:

"Reasons for immediate closure of a food service establishment:

• High score on the routine inspection
• Sewage backing up in kitchen and/or bathroom
• No hot water/running water
• Electricity goes out
• Other imminent health hazards: broken refrigeration, damage caused by accidents or natural disasters, or when establishment is linked to a food borne illness outbreak

  Other: No permit to be operating"

Source: Public Health of Seattle and King County

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