Report: Bengals, Reds stadiums rank low in food cleanliness

Great American Ball Park and Paul Brown Stadium both rank eighth-worst in MLB and NFL, respectively
The scene at Great American Ball Park in 2018. David Jablonski/Staff

The scene at Great American Ball Park in 2018. David Jablonski/Staff

Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park and Paul Brown Stadium did not fare well in an ESPN "Outside the Lines" investigation into food safety at pro sports venues around North America.

In the investigation, ESPN “reviewed and collected more than 16,000 food-safety inspection reports from health departments that monitor the 111 professional football, baseball, basketball and hockey facilities across North America. The review of routine inspection reports from 2016 and 2017 found that at about 28 percent of the venues, half or more of the food service outlets incurred a high-level violation — one that poses a potential threat for foodborne illness.”

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Great American Ball Park, the home of the Cincinnati Reds, was the eighth-worst stadium in baseball in the report. Fifty two food locations at the stadium were inspected, and 26 had high-level violations.

According to one report, “Inspectors found old food from a previous game in a disconnected warmer on July 25, 2017.”

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Paul Brown Stadium, the home of the Cincinnati Bengals, ranked eighth worst among NFL stadiums. Sixty three food outlets were inspected at the stadium, and 34 had high-level violations.

One health inspection in 2017 “found a large amount of mouse feces, along with mold and a soiled garbage can inside an ice machine.”

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