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Dead bugs, expired milk found in Cowboys Stadium inspection
by JASON WHITELY
WFAA
Posted on August 3, 2010 at 9:52 PM
Updated yesterday at 10:46 PM
Dozens of Food Sanitation Inspection Reports released by the City of Arlington reveal exactly what health inspectors found as they surveyed Cowboys Stadium during its first year of operation, including expired milk, dead beetles, and food kept at the wrong temperature.
News 8 requested the documents under the Public Information Act and learned that 73 percent of the places to buy food and drinks at the venue received critical violations, according to the city.
The reports detail specific violations inspectors discovered inside the stadium's 178 restaurants, kiosks and concession stands.
The most violations — 42 of them — were written for having either no soap or no towels readily available for workers to use, as required by city code.
In addition, the documents reveal that inspectors saw employees either eating and drinking or open food and drinks in areas where food is prepared.
"Whenever you see someone eating or drinking, that could lead to poor personal hygiene, which could lead to contamination of food," explained Tony Jenkins of the Dallas County Health Department.
The reports News 8 reviewed showed eight instances of food kept at wrong temperatures. An inspector observed chili in a pot at 74 degrees when, the report said, it was supposed to be warmed at 165 degrees.
In addition, hot dogs that should be maintained at 135 degrees were found at 71 degrees.
Expired milk was discovered on two occasions.
Jenkins is not associated with any of these inspections, but offered an independent perspective on the seriousness of what Arlington found.
"I would take away that there's not very good safe food handling skills going on in the food prep area," he said.
Legends Hospitality owns and operates concessions at Cowboys Stadium. The company is co-owned by Jerry Jones and the late George Steinbrenner.
Legends told News 8 it fixed everything inspectors found almost immediately. It doesn't dispute the violations, but rather points to its scores.
Zero, for having no violations, is the best.
Though the stadium had a lot of places with issues, each of the 178 facilities is judged independently, and only had one or two write-ups apiece.
So the average score for Cowboys Stadium is 4.
The City of Arlington agreed, and said it was a good score, considering restaurants citywide have an average rating of 15.
"This is the first time the health department is doing an operational-wide inspection," said Dan Smith, Chief Operating Officer for Legends Hospitality. "We feel we operate in a safe environment. We're quite proud of how we operate."
"It's always good to have a third party look at it," Smith added in a telephone interview from New York.
As for employees found eating and drinking where food is prepared, Smith said that shouldn't have happened.
"Whenever you have 2,000 workers there are going to be some that don't follow the rules," he said.
Still, he stressed, the food at Cowboys Stadium is safe — and the scores prove it.
by JASON WHITELY
WFAA
Posted on August 3, 2010 at 9:52 PM
Updated yesterday at 10:46 PM
Dozens of Food Sanitation Inspection Reports released by the City of Arlington reveal exactly what health inspectors found as they surveyed Cowboys Stadium during its first year of operation, including expired milk, dead beetles, and food kept at the wrong temperature.
News 8 requested the documents under the Public Information Act and learned that 73 percent of the places to buy food and drinks at the venue received critical violations, according to the city.
The reports detail specific violations inspectors discovered inside the stadium's 178 restaurants, kiosks and concession stands.
The most violations — 42 of them — were written for having either no soap or no towels readily available for workers to use, as required by city code.
In addition, the documents reveal that inspectors saw employees either eating and drinking or open food and drinks in areas where food is prepared.
"Whenever you see someone eating or drinking, that could lead to poor personal hygiene, which could lead to contamination of food," explained Tony Jenkins of the Dallas County Health Department.
The reports News 8 reviewed showed eight instances of food kept at wrong temperatures. An inspector observed chili in a pot at 74 degrees when, the report said, it was supposed to be warmed at 165 degrees.
In addition, hot dogs that should be maintained at 135 degrees were found at 71 degrees.
Expired milk was discovered on two occasions.
Jenkins is not associated with any of these inspections, but offered an independent perspective on the seriousness of what Arlington found.
"I would take away that there's not very good safe food handling skills going on in the food prep area," he said.
Legends Hospitality owns and operates concessions at Cowboys Stadium. The company is co-owned by Jerry Jones and the late George Steinbrenner.
Legends told News 8 it fixed everything inspectors found almost immediately. It doesn't dispute the violations, but rather points to its scores.
Zero, for having no violations, is the best.
Though the stadium had a lot of places with issues, each of the 178 facilities is judged independently, and only had one or two write-ups apiece.
So the average score for Cowboys Stadium is 4.
The City of Arlington agreed, and said it was a good score, considering restaurants citywide have an average rating of 15.
"This is the first time the health department is doing an operational-wide inspection," said Dan Smith, Chief Operating Officer for Legends Hospitality. "We feel we operate in a safe environment. We're quite proud of how we operate."
"It's always good to have a third party look at it," Smith added in a telephone interview from New York.
As for employees found eating and drinking where food is prepared, Smith said that shouldn't have happened.
"Whenever you have 2,000 workers there are going to be some that don't follow the rules," he said.
Still, he stressed, the food at Cowboys Stadium is safe — and the scores prove it.