Milwaukee athletic facilities receive health code violations

According to a recent report by ESPN Outside the Lines, all three of Wisconsin’s major professional sport facilities have vendors that were in violation of Wisconsin Health Department requirements. The results are based on the most recent routine inspections or the equivalent of a full inspection.
ESPN reviewed health department inspection reports for food and beverage outlets in 107 stadiums and arenas across the country for MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA. Wisconsin’s Lambeau Field, Miller Park and the Bradley Center were part of the report.
The report indicates that at 30 sporting venues across the country and Canada, more than half of the vendors had been cited for at least one critical health violation. These violations pose a risk for dangerous and potentially fatal food born illnesses.
Milwaukee’s Bradley Center, home of the Milwaukee Bucks had 23 percent of its vendors receive critical violations. According to the report notes, a volunteer worker used bare hands to level ice in an ice bin, before the inspector ordered the ice to be thrown out. Miller Park had 33 percent of its vendors receive critical violations and ESPN’s excerpt from the inspection indicated mold was found growing in ice machines at six locations throughout the stadium.
Three of Chicago’s major sport venues received zero critical violations with the exception of Soldier Field which had 12 percent of its vendors in violation due to the lack of hot water. According to the ESPN report, Chicago health inspectors inspect vendors while stadiums are empty which may account for the discrepancy. Outside of Chicago, only eight stadiums across the country and Canada received zero violations. Two, Minnesota’s Target Field and New Jersey’s Meadowland Stadium received zero’s because the stadiums were new and there were no health inspection records available. Seven facilities in Florida had 75 to 100 percent of vendors in violation of health code, but could be a result of stricter policies, according to the report. 
Other sporting venues throughout the country were cited for mice droppings, rat infestation, improper food temperatures and inadequate cleaning supplies and facilities. You can read the Milwaukee Health Department’s full report on any Milwaukee business here. If you’d like to read ESPN’s Outside the Lines story: What’s Lurking in Your Stadium Food? click here.