King County food-safety inspectors on Monday "found
serious health violations that had the potential to spread
food-borne illness at numerous concession stands and kiosks
at Safeco Field," according to Tom Paulson of the SEATTLE
POST-INTELLIGENCER. No known illnesses "were associated
with any of the violations, most of which were immediately
corrected." Inspectors cited 24 "booths or stands for the
most serious 'red critical' violations -- meaning they had
to be immediately corrected because they posed a threat of
food-borne illness." Some of the violations included
"undercooked meat and other foods, potential cross-
contamination between raw and cooked meats and debris in ice
used for drinks." Mariners Dir of Public Information
Rebecca Hale: "We are very, very concerned." The facility's
concessionaire, Volume Services, said that it would withhold
comment on the report until it reviewed the complete food
inspection findings (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 7/22).
NOT FENCED IN? ESPN's Peter Gammons reported that
Mariners execs have "told the players that they will find
out how Safeco Field plays, then they can be flexible about
moving in the fences in left or centerfield" (ESPN, 7/21).
