On Jan. 17, King County unveiled the signs that food inspectors will place in restaurant windows.

King County is now the first county in the country to base its food safety ratings on four inspections rather than a single snapshot, better reflecting a restaurant’s performance over time. Public Health will also be the first agency to use side-by-side peer inspections as a training tool so inspectors can better understand how they reached their conclusions, a proven approach that increases consistency.

“We are once again putting King County at the forefront of innovative public health practices, making food safety ratings more accurate, consistent and transparent,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine in a press release. “Our new approach supports our region’s diverse, thriving restaurant scene and helps customers make better informed decisions when dining out.”