Got sick or had a bad experience eating at an Olympia restaurant? Here’s how to report it

Have you ever enjoyed a nice meal at a restaurant, only to get home later that evening to find yourself bent over in pain and spending more time with the toilet than with your family? Or perhaps you’ve been enjoying a nice meal at a restaurant before noticing something that absolutely violates Washington State Retail Food Code.

Whatever the problem, something’s not how it’s supposed to be.

Fortunately, it’s easy in Washington to report a food code or poisoning violation.

The Washington State Department of Health oversees food safety regulations, such as implementing the Food Protection Program, which outlines the standards and guidelines for safe foot storage and handling in Washington.

But the responsibility for enforcing food regulations and performing inspections falls to Washington’s 35 local health departments. Olympia falls under the jurisdiction of the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services.

All food facilities under Thurston County Public Health and Social Services’ authority are subject to routine kitchen inspections. The inspections note 50 potential food safety violations, including high-risk factors that lead directly to foodborne illnesses and low-risk factors, which are defined as good retail practices such as fixing damaged floors and grease accumulation.

“Typically, a public health official will call the person who filed the report to ask clarifying questions or to notify them their concern was received and to explain the next steps,” Washington State Department of Health spokesperson Kara Kostanich told The Olympian.

“Questions vary widely based on what the person is reporting,” Kostanich continued. “As an example, a public health professional may ask further questions to determine the severity of unsanitary conditions. Or they may ask the person about symptoms and a 3-day meal history if they are reporting an illness.”

Reporting food poisoning or violations

If you visit a restaurant and become sick from eating there or notice any other food violations, you can directly report it to Thurston County Public Health and Social Services. Here’s how:

Online complaint

• Fill out the department’s online form

• The form will ask for your contact information, the name and information of the establishment in question for the violation

• Photos can also be uploaded to the complaint form if necessary

Phone complaint

• Call Thurston County Public Health and Social Services at (360) 867-2667

After the complaint

• Watch your phone or email as a health official will reach out

• Be prepared to answer specific questions about the violation and food items you’ve eaten up to three days before becoming ill.

Once a complaint is filed, public health officials will either call the business, conduct an inspection, or conduct an illness investigation if an illness was reported. The Department of Health is also developing an online system that will log all complaints into a single database accessible by all health departments, Kostanich said.

How to identify food poisoning

Food poisoning typically comes from swallowing certain germs that contaminate foods, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two of the most common germs are Salmonella and E. Coli, and dependent on which germ you swallow, food poisoning can last from hours to days.

According to the CDC, some of the most common symptoms of food poisoning are:

• Diarrhea

• Stomach pain or cramps

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Fever

The CDC recommends drinking plenty of fluids to keep you hydrated during food poisoning. But there are more severe symptoms that the CDC recommends seeing a doctor for if they persist:

• Bloody diarrhea

• Diarrhea that lasts for more than three days

• Fever with a temperature over 102 degrees

• Vomiting so often you can’t keep fluids down

• Signs of dehydration include not frequently urinating, dry mouth, and dizziness when standing up.