More food safety rating signs coming to King County in 2025

You’ll be seeing more food safety rating signs — complete with their corresponding faces — come January. The signs indicate facilities have gone through health inspections. Once limited to restaurants, those signs will soon be posted on food trucks, food carts, and even stores selling meat and seafood.

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Eyob Mazengia, the food safety program manager for Public Health – Seattle & King County, said all those food vendors and suppliers already undergo inspections. But their ratings have historically been posted online and were not readily visible.

“Many customers don’t either have the time or may find it difficult to access our website and may actually not be aware that these facilities are indeed getting routine inspections,” Mazengia said.

A rise in unpermitted food trucks and carts in the county also prompted the expansion of the physical signs. Still, Mazengia said the issue is more than a business permit requirement.

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“It is not just that they purchased a license to operate,” he explained, “but rather it is a comprehensive review of their operation.”

That review includes whether they have proper handwashing facilities, and whether they follow food-handling safety protocols.

Just don't expect the signs to appear everywhere all at once.

Mazengia said the process of issuing the green signs will take several months. Some businesses will receive temporary signs to indicate they have a permit and are awaiting an inspection for their safety rating.