As a result of Fox 59's Investigation at Lucas Oil Stadium Marion County Health Department food inspectors will now be allowed to make unannounced surprise visits and inspections at Lucas Stadium on Colts game days.
Colts officials say they welcome the inspections for the safety of all fans eating at the facility. NFL officials say there's never been a restriction on inspectors on game days. But Marion County health department officials say that wasn't their understanding. They had been told by stadium officials that they had to inform management who and when they were coming. Now the policy has changed following Fox 59's reports.
Meanwhile, Centerplate Catering's CEO Des Hague flew to Indianapolis Thursday to address health violation concerns.
"This stadium is not a dirty stadium. There was an instance of rodent infestation. There's been issues from day one," said Hague who sat down to speak with Fox 59. He says executive managers will be working in tandem with 15 contracted inspectors hired by Centerplate in addition to Marion County inspectors to make sure all food and kitchen areas are up to code.
Fox59 broke exclusive pictures of mice feces in a stadium pantry. A Centerplate whistle blower told her story of frustration only to Fox59. She said management ignored her pleas to get mice feces cleaned out of the pantry on the Northwest side of the stadium.
"I brought it to several employees and Suite supervisors, kitchen staff, and the chefs but people just kind of overlooked it," the whistle blower said.
Centerplate officials would not allow Fox 59 to see the pantry Thursday but agreed to let the station come see it at a later date. It has of course been now cleaned. Hague said that Centerplate workers have been cleaning the stadium thoroughly and will continue to do so. The stadium has had numerous food code violations in the last year including mice infestation problems and feces accumulation and unsafe food reports. Hague vows the stadium will have an overhaul with new higher standards put in place.
Centerplate has an approximate $13 million contract to provide food services at Lucas. It has an approximate $6 million contract for the Indianapolis convention center. It also has major food contracts with the Indiana State Museum, the Indianapolis Zoo and the Murat Theatre. Centerplate is a $700 million company with stadium and convention contracts across the U.S.
Colts officials say they welcome the inspections for the safety of all fans eating at the facility. NFL officials say there's never been a restriction on inspectors on game days. But Marion County health department officials say that wasn't their understanding. They had been told by stadium officials that they had to inform management who and when they were coming. Now the policy has changed following Fox 59's reports.
Meanwhile, Centerplate Catering's CEO Des Hague flew to Indianapolis Thursday to address health violation concerns.
"This stadium is not a dirty stadium. There was an instance of rodent infestation. There's been issues from day one," said Hague who sat down to speak with Fox 59. He says executive managers will be working in tandem with 15 contracted inspectors hired by Centerplate in addition to Marion County inspectors to make sure all food and kitchen areas are up to code.
Fox59 broke exclusive pictures of mice feces in a stadium pantry. A Centerplate whistle blower told her story of frustration only to Fox59. She said management ignored her pleas to get mice feces cleaned out of the pantry on the Northwest side of the stadium.
"I brought it to several employees and Suite supervisors, kitchen staff, and the chefs but people just kind of overlooked it," the whistle blower said.
Centerplate officials would not allow Fox 59 to see the pantry Thursday but agreed to let the station come see it at a later date. It has of course been now cleaned. Hague said that Centerplate workers have been cleaning the stadium thoroughly and will continue to do so. The stadium has had numerous food code violations in the last year including mice infestation problems and feces accumulation and unsafe food reports. Hague vows the stadium will have an overhaul with new higher standards put in place.
Centerplate has an approximate $13 million contract to provide food services at Lucas. It has an approximate $6 million contract for the Indianapolis convention center. It also has major food contracts with the Indiana State Museum, the Indianapolis Zoo and the Murat Theatre. Centerplate is a $700 million company with stadium and convention contracts across the U.S.
