BRIEF: Look here to find out how well your favorite Whatcom eatery does with food safety

Feb. 15--You've heard of the annual Silver Platter Award, which highlights Whatcom County restaurants that get top marks for food safety.

But what about the other restaurants, food trucks and farmers market eateries?

Now you can find out how they fared during their inspections as well, thanks to a new food safety feature on the Whatcom County Health Department's website.

It offers summaries of eateries permitted by the health department, including violations, and explains to consumers what they're looking at. The online inspections go back five years.

"We've been asked for easier access to food inspection results," department Director Regina Delahunt said Wednesday. "This new feature gives consumers the information they want about food safety practices at local food establishments in a quick, uncomplicated format."

In the past, people had to submit public records request to the health department to get these inspection reports. They still will have to if they want the entire inspection report instead of a summary, the health department said.

Find the new search tool online at whatcomcounty.us/SearchFoodInspections.

Kie Relyea: 360-715-2234, @kierelyea

___

(c)2018 The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)

Visit The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.) at www.bellinghamherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.