Inspectors threatened to shut down Memorial Stadium concession stand over violations

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Tigers will be back at Memorial Stadium before long.

While the football team is scoring touchdowns, fans will soon be able to score a snack at the concession stands.

The University of Missouri's own Environmental Health Inspectors are focused on inspecting Mizzou Arena for basketball season, but soon they will be back at Memorial Stadium.

Records from the 2019 football season show that inspectors handed out fewer violations in 2019 than they did in 2018, down from 205 violations to 153.

Here is a look at the violations for which each stand was cited:

However, the violations appeared to be more severe at one stand, with a threatened closure of the Northeast Grill, which is a trailer at the stadium.

During a visit on Oct. 12, inspectors noticed seven violations including an employee eating over the cutting board.

Northeast Grill was able to fix its violations and remain open for the rest of the season. In total, the stand was given 13 violations for issues such as a sink not working and an employee cup that was growing mold.

However, Northeast Grill did not receive the most violations.

Show Me Kitchen was handed 16 violations during the 2019 football season. Inspectors cited that stand for having expired tomatoes and raw chicken splashing onto ready-to-eat buns.

Sixteen stands were not cited with any violations during the 2019 football season.

MU spokeswoman Liz McCune said inspectors follow the same protocol at Faurot Field and Mizzou Arena.

“So we’re looking for handwashing, we’re taking temperatures of food items to make sure that hot foods are kept hot and cold foods are kept cold,” McCune said.

There are two differences in inspections at Faurot Field and Mizzou Arena -- one is the frequency of inspections.

“At Faurot we inspect every home game, at Mizzou Arena since there are so many more basketball games, we will intermittently do inspections and they are on a surprise basis," McCune said.

McCune said there is also a difference in the environment at each venue.

“At Faurot, you’re outside, or partially sheltered and Mizzou Arena is inside, McCune said. "We hold our vendors to the same high standards no matter where they are located.”