According to an ESPN investigative report, food safety violations in North American sports arenas are not a rarity. After reviewing health department inspection reports for food and beverage vendors in all 107 North American sports arenas used by the NBA, NFL, NBA and NHL, ESPN found that at 30 venues more than half of the food providers had been cited for at least one “critical” or “major” health violation. These are violations which pose a risk for foodborne illnesses that can make someone ill, or, in extreme cases, lead to fatality. Examples include improper handwashing, improper holding temperatures, and mice and insect infestations. The good news is that there has not been a mass outbreak of foodborne illness at a professional stadium yet. However, nonfatal food poisoning appears to be a common occurrence. Right now, there are no standardized safety regulations in place for such venues. Rather, inspection rules vary by location. Given the unique challenges faced by such large stadiums to feed the tens of millions of spectators year round, food policy and public health groups certainly have an uphill climb ahead in trying to keep the public safe. For the full report, and to see how your local stadium stands on food safety, visit ESPN.
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.