Stephanie Sigafoos: ESPN report highlights food safety inspections at Philly's sports complex

Dec. 14--ESPN's "Outside the Lines" said it collected data from more than 16,000 food-safety inspection reports from 111 venues across the country and in Canada, including all three facilities that make up the South Philadelphia sports complex.

According to the full report, which was compiled in 2016-17 and recently published on ESPN.com, Philadelphia's venues were middle of the road as compared to the overall results. The data also showed 73 of 107 venues were actually as good or better when compared to restaurants and eateries in their surrounding communities.

ESPN noted that because health departments use a version of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Code, classifications of the severity of violations varied. Those considered high-level violations, or ones that poses a potential threat for food-borne illness, were specifically mentioned.

Here's what the report said about Philadelphia's venues:

At Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies, 101 outlets were inspected with 43 high-level violations found. The violations included things like food being prepped on top of a trash receptacle (which was discarded), and employee food, beverages and belongings mingling with food items at a concession stand. Slime in an ice machine was also noted in the report.

The high-level percentage of 42.57 ranked CBP as 10th worst among MLB parks.

At the Wells Fargo Center, home of the Flyers and Sixers, 51 outlets were inspected with 16 high-level violations found. The violations included fruit flies in prep areas, and rodent droppings in a concession storage area.

The high-level percentage of 31.37 ranked it about the middle of the pack for NBA facilities, 14th best.

At Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Eagles, 96 outlets were inspected with 32 high-level violations found. The violations included dairy products that measured too warm to prevent spoilage, and rodent feces on floors of dry storage areas, and behind a beer cooler and ice machines in the food prep area at a concession.

The high-level percentage of 33.33 ranked it 13th best among NFL stadiums.

ssigafoos@mcall.com

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