Critical Food Safety Violations in Chicago Ballparks

September 27, 2011

Health safety inspectors found critical and repeated food safety violations during regular visits to Wrigley Field and U.S. Cellular Field over the course of the baseball season, including food kept at unsafe temperature, mold and unhygienic practices among servers. 

In September, inspectors discovered 15 critical violations and threw out $350 of food at Cellular Field. An August inspection of Wrigley Field found 20 critical violations and resulted in $215 of food being thrown away. 

According to the Chicago Tribune

Sausages and other food at the Italian Hot Spot were not stored at the right temperatures, and employees there handled food while also touching surfaces, kitchen equipment and money. One employee was “handling money and put her fingers inside the cup that was given to customer filled with drink.” There was also a buildup of garbage with flies and a strong odor.

Unfortunately, the problems were not isolated to one or two stands. Inspectors found mold or "black slime" in five separate concession stands. 

Yuck!

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