The Dirty Dog, a mobile food vendor in Seattle, was closed by a Public Health food inspector on Jan. 18, because of several violations.

The establishment will be reopened once an inspector confirms that these issues have been resolved:

  • Lack of hot water at handwash sink
  • Lack of handwashing
  • Expired food worker card
  • Inadequate equipment for temperature control

Public Health for Seattle-King County currently has seven food establishments shut-down for food safety violations.  The agency says the Dirty Dog,  1700 1st Ave South, will be reopened once the inspector confirms corrections have been made.

Reasons for closing a food establishment can vary and include such issues as failure to follow the permit process and unsafe food handling.

The six other food establishments that remain closed in the Seattle area based on Public Health orders were all shut-down during 2019 and have yet to take necessary actions to re-open.

The food establishments that remain closed from 2019 include:

  • Clock Restaurant at 8319 Wabash Ave. S in Seattle. It was closed at 2 p.m. on Dec. 24 for failure to renew an operating permit and for operating a food establishment without a valid license.
  • Unapproved food stand found operating in Enumclaw, WA, was closed at 12:15 p.m. Dec. 4 for operating with a permit, serving food from an unapproved source, and operating without handwashing facilities.
  • Champion Grocery, 1175 NW Gilman Blvd., Suite 2, in Issaquah, WA. It was shut down at noon, Nov. 14, for operating without approved plans and permits.
  • An unlicensed vendor was selling food out of a personal car with a valid permit at a construction site at 17211 15th Ave. N.E., in Shoreline, WA. The vendor was shut down at noon, Nov. 13.
  • Boise Creek Grocery, 46918 244th Ave S.E., Enumclaw, WA, was closed on Nov. 13 at 10:10 a.m. for operating without a valid permit.
  • A mobile food truck doing business as Tacos El Guero was closed down at 11:50 a.m. on May 31 for operating a mobile food unit without a valid permit. The truck put out of business is for the vehicle with license plate C39468D.

Tacos El Guero has another mobile food unit that is legally operating in King County.

Seattle-King County’s Public Health is one of the largest metropolitan health departments in the United States.  With 1,400 employees, 40 sites, and a biennial budget of $686 million, Public Health serves a resident population of 2.2 million people.  Over 100 languages are spoken in the area, which also welcomes 40 million visitors annually.

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