For a relatively new complex, Yankee Stadium is getting some pretty sour health code reviews.
Business Insider recently ranked the worst food safety violations at Major League Baseball stadiums and found that a couple of AL East stadiums weren't up to par. Businesinsider.com notes, however, that "there is some difficulty comparing different ballparks, as each city, county, or state system for restaurant inspections, and the same violation can mean different things in different places."
Yankee Stadium was found to have the 12th-most violations among MLB venues, according to department of health reports. Among the Yankees home's 32 critical violations were the following:
- Food was subject to contamination and cross-contamination.
- "Filth flies" found in food preparation areas.
- Several stands missing appropriate hand washing facilities.
- Food products stored in dented cans.
- Multiple signs of "vermin."
It was the Rays' Tropicana Field that came away with the most violations with 217, which more than doubled the next-worst venue (Kansas City's Kaufman Stadium which had 100 critical violations). Among the Trop's critical violations were:
- Various raw animal based products stored not properly separated from one another.
- Same pair of tongs used to handle two different animal products.
- Build up of slime and soil on the interior of several ice machines.
- An employee handling food had fingernails that were long enough to prevent the proper wearing of protective gloves.
- Steak thawing at room temperature.
- Employees were seen handling money and also handling food without changing gloves.
- A prepared shrimp sandwich was being held at 82 degrees.
Boston's beloved little bandbox, Fenway Park, had just one critical violation to go with three minor violations. Business Insider lists noted that "Encrustments found inside the ice machine," and "Employees neglecting to clean and sanitize at least one can opener blade," as two violations.
