The report "What's lurking in your stadium food?" by ESPN's "Outside the Lines" is, unfortunately, seriously flawed. It compares food inspection violations across the United States and suggests that raw violation numbers inherently mean unsafe food and Florida may be less safe than other states.
Raw violation numbers, however, don't tell the whole story.
Most food safety inspections in the United States find violations. More important is whether regulatory authorities find the business has met inspection standards, which the story fails to provide. If it met inspection standards, as most Florida locations did, the regulatory authority found no immediate public health threat.
In fact, Florida Department of Health annual reports show a remarkable 86 percent decrease in Florida restaurant food-borne illness since 1997.
Inspection methods and requirements also vary greatly from state to state. Unlike other states, Florida restaurant inspections are done by a single statewide agency, producing superior consistency. Sports facilities are inspected only when food service is operating. The story reveals that other states inspect while no food service is operating, all but ensuring fewer violations.
Florida food safety requirements are among the nation's strongest. Food safety in our sports facilities - even with violations - can easily best that in other states with lesser standards and fewer violations.
Florida sports venues are world class, and so is our food service. Sports fans can and should have confidence that our vendors are committed to quality and safety and that our regulators ensure it.
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