An "Inside Edition" undercover investigation "found
serious food safety problems at [MLB] parks all across the
country," according to Matt Meagher. "IE" visited 15 MLB
parks, and shot hidden-camera footage depicting apparent
violations by food workers. Meagher: "We were looking for
so-called critical violations, shoddy food handling and
service practices the [FDA] says can lead to food-born
illness." At Bank One Ballpark, Meagher found "hot dogs,
burgers and chicken served at dangerously low temperatures."
Meagher: "But it wasn't only Phoenix. At eight of the 15
stadiums, half of the foods we tested were below the 140-
degree (FDA approved temperature) safety limit." Meagher
said that food temperature "is just one problem," noting
health inspection reports that found "rodents and
cockroaches in Kansas City, flies in San Francisco, and
rodent droppings" in the Astrodome. While Fenway Park was
one of the ballparks that received a "clean bill of health"
earlier this year, that was when it was inspected three days
before opening day with "no food, no fans." "IE" found
"dangerously low temperatures in nearly half the Fenway food
we tested." Meagher: "We tried to get some answers from
Aramark, the company that runs Fenway Park's food
concessions. Instead, we got kicked out." "IE" was also
kicked out of the concession areas at Yankee Stadium.
Afterward, host Deborah Norville: "Concessionaires at Kansas
City, Milwaukee and Phoenix all say that they periodically
spot check their food, and that they are looking into our
findings. Health officials in Boston say that they plan
follow-up inspections" ("Inside Edition," 5/20).
