Aramark Food Safety Manager for Kauffman Stadium and Arrowhead Stadium Jon Costa said that poor food handling and dirty conditions "have routinely been putting fans' health at risk -- including during the World Series," according to Paula Lavigne of ESPN.com. Aramark runs concessions at both venues and has food-and-beverage contracts with 30 pro teams. Costa two weeks ago "sent information about the food safety concerns to local media and ESPN." He said that he did this only "after months of trying to get Aramark senior management to address his concerns and reprimand employees who broke food handling and prep rules." Costa added that he "had no authority to reprimand employees, and he was powerless on site because the employees he would have been instructing did not report to him." He said that Aramark placed him on paid administrative leave "after learning that Costa sent those details to the media." Aramark Sports & Entertainment COO Marc Bruno said that Costa's photographs and descriptions "were 'just allegations at this point,' and the company has addressed problems that Costa has raised throughout his 2½ years with the company." Aramark Senior VP/Communications & Public Affairs Tod MacKenzie in a statement said, "The unsubstantiated claims raised by a disgruntled employee are very troubling, as is his unknown motivation" (ESPN.com, 11/14).
CALL AND RESPONSE: Aramark said that it "conducts frequent internal inspections and had hired an independent auditor to evaluate its operations at both stadiums twice in the last 30 days." However, in K.C., Mark Davis noted Aramark "did not characterize the auditor’s findings." Both the Royals and Chiefs on Friday issued statements saying that Aramark’s service "is an important part of the fan experience, with the Royals adding that the company has been 'a valued partner' in delivering services to fans." City of K.C. Environmental Health Services Division Manager Naser Jouhari said that there "is nothing in Aramark’s record to indicate unusual problems." The company said that it "has received food safety excellence awards at each stadium from the department" (K.C. STAR, 11/15).
