Is Chuck E. Cheese's Really Chuck E. Diseases?

Is Chuck E. Cheese's Really Chuck E. Diseases?

Friday, December 5, 2008

filed under: family

As parents, we've all taken our kids to child-friendly restaurants. After our co-worker claimed to have gotten ringworm from Chuck E. Cheese's, we all started to wonder ... is this happy place really as clean and safe as it seems? We decided to do our own investigation and find out. Get ready for ... GROSS!

With the help of world famous germ expert "Dr. Germ," aka Dr. Charles Gerba, momlogic decided to find out what kind of bacteria our kids are exposed to while playing and eating at everyone's favorite pizza party place.

We tested three California Chuck E. Cheese's locations: one in Pasadena, one in Sun Valley and one in Burbank. Under Dr. Gerba's supervision, momlogic swabbed numerous surfaces in the restaurant and arcade including games, play mats, trays, tables and high chairs. Those samples were then sealed and shipped to Dr. Gerba's lab for analysis. What we found surprised even Dr. Gerba ... and shocked the hell out of us!

Click to see what we found at

Chuck E. Cheese's

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87 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

ANYBODY with half a brain hsould realize what a germ infested place that restaurant is. The ball pit is NEVER cleaned, and the one that is for toddlers stinks like pee. Those balls should be removed and cleaned daily and the floor of the pit should be sanitized daily. The tubes that kids climb in are very dangerous. You can’t SEE your child in them and they are full of germs. If someone was in there molesting your child you wouldn’t know until it was too late. As for ChuckECheese’s “security” that is supposed to prevent anyone from kidnapping your child or you child wandering out the front door…well, that is a big nothing. ANYONE at ANYTIME can leave with your child.

- Inkling

Posted 04/02/09 10:51 AM

My son was sick every day that he went to daycare because of the toys not being sanitized. He was not sick for any other reason. As soon as I removed him from daycare he got well, and he has only been sick twice in the past 11 years! The state requires daycare providers to do so many things to get state sanctioned, but they should require regular inspections of their homes or facilities for cleanliness.

- Inkling

Posted 04/02/09 11:10 AM

The government schools should be sanitized daily. It isn’t enough to just mop the floors. The janitors should be wiping the desks with bleach daily as well as doorknobs, door, and door frames. I don’t send my child to public school. It is a breeding ground for germs and criminal activities, just like the prisons they run.

- Inkling

Posted 04/02/09 11:14 AM

Germs are everywhere, get used to it

- Grimace

Posted 04/14/09 11:48 AM

I resent the comment from the person that said a lot of low class people go to chuck e. cheese. I have a lot of class, educated and very “well off” financially. I think the more appropriate common denominator to recognize is that a lot of people that have children go to chuck e. cheese. I agree it is disgusting, but kids love it. so what do I do? I take them right when the place opens still armed w/sanitizer, and leave soon as the kids start coming in. no one ever cleans there, so I clean up behind them. My children have fun, and I feel better about them not getting sick…although it’s not a sure thing

- diana

Posted 04/27/09 05:38 PM

The flu and Chuckie e Cheese are not compatable, CEC stock is up and down like the bi-polar corp they are. They just pushed 2 Million to “prop up” there stock as if they know someing is going down, like 50 of Chuckie e Cheeses “down the tubes”. less profit, fist fights, and ones sited by the health Dept. Chuckie is taking a ride and it is not with the “bride of Chuckie”, for his on pleasure. No hours are being cut, ICE is at there door, and Mersa is running its course, and childern are still walking right out of kid check. Give a child a quater, turn him into a addict. Take him to church and teach him how to make a dollar and not cast it unto a swine like Chuckie. I love you guys….

- Ed

Posted 05/05/09 11:40 AM

Wow I cannot believe how people are so rude just over a discussion of germs! For those of you saying “oh, so what about germs… Kids have immune systems…” well, listen to this. My decision to take my 5 year old son there almost killed him (literally). Last March we went to chuck e cheese during school vacation. Several days later… He had developed influenza. I never thought the flu could kill. But, infortuneately the flu turned into pneumonia with a pleural effusion, and his lung collapsed. He had 2 surgeries, had a chest tube placed, and was on a ventilator for two weeks. It was horrible to see this happen to my baby. He spent more than a month in the hospital, and came home on an IV for continued antibiotics for 3 months for an abcess that was left in his lung. I asked the infectious disease doctor about it, and he said he wouldn’t even bring his own kids to chuck e cheese. I can’t say for sure if that is where he got sick, but when I see the scars all over his arm, chest, and back… Its terrifies me to consider exposing my child to unneccessary places like that. All it takes is one time. Is it worth it? Why not read a book or play soccer outside instead?

- Jennifer

Posted 08/10/09 05:42 PM

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