Airline kitchens are known for their own food safety problems, but rarely do these problems on the ground result in a loss of food service in the air.
However, Delta Air Lines made the connection by announcing that passengers on 200 flights were denied meal service last weekend due to a “food safety issue” in the flight kitchen in Detroit.
The kitchen of the Detroit airline that serves Delta flights was subject to a routine inspection by the Food and Drug Administration. Delta said the airline became aware of the food safety issue in the flight kitchen during a recent inspection at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW).
“Delta and its catering partner immediately halted hot food production and subsequently suspended all facility operations,” the airline said
Delta is making adjustments to restore meal service on its flights. Generally, airlines do not have their own kitchens, but hire the service from one of the catering companies.
“Hot meals and other inflight supplies will be shipped to other facilities,” Delta said, adding that it will continue to take necessary precautions to ensure food safety.
Airline kitchens are a $9.6 billion business sector this year. Airline passengers consume more than a billion meals a year, and what is served on a flight is often decided almost a year before the passenger steps on board.
Before the pandemic, airline kitchens were flooded with negative reports about their food safety issues.
Subsequently, inspection reports were unveiled for 91 flight kitchens from LSG, Gate Gourmet and Flying Food Group.
Files from 46 institutions showed that 27 had committed violations or objectionable practices. In Minneapolis, FDA inspectors found live rodents with feces and nesting material.
At Dulles International near Washington, DC, Gate Gourmet wasn’t hot enough to preserve dishes like sea bass, pastrami and cheese sandwiches. I
In San Diego, Gate Gourmet cooked food to airline specifications but did not follow food safety guidelines.
Roy Costa, a food safety expert and contributor to Food Safety News, said airlines – who are responsible for the safety of their passengers – have a serious problem with controlling suppliers.
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