Kansas City Stadiums Feature Health Code Violations According to OTL Report

Kansas City, Missouri, is known for its world-renowned food, but those eating at Kauffman Stadium and Arrowhead Stadium have reportedly been put at risk due to health code violations.

According to Paula Lavigne of ESPN.com and ESPN's Outside the Lines, the home venues of the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs were found to be unfit for handling food during a Nov. 3 city health department inspection.

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The media was first made aware of the reported violations by Jon Costa, who is the district food safety manager for Aramark, which handles concessions at both of the stadiums in question. Per Lavigne, Costa sent out information to local media and ESPN last week after growing concerned over what the conditions could mean for the patrons who ultimately consume the food.

"When we lose control over hygienic practices and we also combine that with poor temperature control—that could be a catastrophe," Costa said. "That is a recipe for foodborne illness. ... It's very likely temperatures are abused every game. Every game."

Additionally, Costa emailed disturbing photos of the concession areas to the media featuring mold, insects and general disrepair.

Aramark chief operating officer Marc Bruno has disputed Costa's claims, however. He told Lavigne:

"

It's completely contrary to everything that we have done in there. Food safety is the top priority, No. 1 at Aramark and No. 1 in Kansas City and all our operations. ... 

…We've served 3 million or 4 million fans this summer in Kansas City at those two stadiums. And the food is safe, the food is high quality, and there are really no issues.

"

At the same time, 37 critical health violations were found at Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 3, and health department division manager Naser Jouhari was taken aback by the conditions.

"The main concern is [inviting] all these insects and rodents to the concession stands so they [could] contaminate food service, food contact areas," he said.

It is unclear precisely what this means for those in charge of food service at Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadiums, but there is no question that they are now under the microscope and will be pushed to make sweeping changes.

This revelation also figures to increase awareness in sports venues across the nation, which will ultimately be a positive thing for concerned fans.

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