INDIANAPOLIS—
Fox59 discovered additional food code violations at the Convention Center written up October 22nd. Des Hague said the company's investigation would be thorough and transparent. Hague said he wants to assure fans who go to Lucas that everything will be done to clean up any unsanitary conditions if they still exist.A Centerplate worker who contacted Fox59 Wednesday said extra employees had been brought in to clean up the entire facility. Centerplate has a multi-million dollar contract to provide food for the Convention Center along with a $13-15 million dollar contract to serve food at Lucas Oil. The Health Department has cited Centerplate numerous times for violations over the last twelve months at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Health Department officials said mice infestation problems have improved but remain a big concern. A photo exclusively obtained by Fox59 showed mice feces still on a pantry shelf that services Stadium VIP Suites on the Northwest side of Lucas. Fox59 broke the story Monday night that showed unsanitary conditions at the stadium and the mice droppings near food.
But at Lucas Oil Stadium and every other NFL site across the country there are special rules and exception made for food inspections.
"The policy of the NFL is we have to let them know in advance when we come to the stadium," said John Althardt with the Marion County Health Department. That policy is different from every other food inspection the department does. Typically food inspections are unannounced so inspectors can actually see real time conditions in food venues and restaurants. Restaurants like the Broad Ripple Steakhouse get surprise visits.
"We should be surprised so were at standard at code every day of the week," said Kent King who owns Broad Ripple Steak House. "That's the way it should be."
But at the stadium, the NFL says it's a game day security issue. Even still, the health department says the special treatment hasn't kept inspectors from uncovering problems.
"They've (Lucas Oil/Centerplate) has been cited 42 times and fined a total of $3500 which is almost unprecedented in terms of what the Health Department does," said Althardt. Exterminator Phil Bledsoe with Gold Seal Pest control thinks they're probably using live traps where mice go in but never come out.
"It'll catch 20-30 mice at one setting," said Bledsoe. "There's poison they just go inside."
Fox59 has uncovered additional critical health code violations for Centerplate.
Centerplate's other local, multi-million dollar food contract is for the Indianapolis Convention Center. Fox 59 reviewed 9 critical violations at the Indianapolis Convention Center from October 22nd. Included were citations for food that's unsafe including "a case of whipping cream outdated and needs to be disposed of" "Potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food not properly date marked." "A food contact surface soiled" and smoking and hand washing violations.
Because of all the media scrutiny, Centerplate's CEO Des Hague is flying into Indianapolis and will tour Lucas Oil Stadium Thursday. He also vows any mice problems or unsanitary food conditions will be fixed.
The health department doesn't plan a visit to Lucas oil this weekend, because of all of the attention.
"Probably this is a weekend where they're going to have things in order, so we will wait for a later date to see if they are keeping standards up," said Althardt. The next scheduled visit by health inspectors is December 6th.
