After a recent incident involving tainted food on a Delta Airlines flight that led to an emergency landing at JFK International Airport, the carrier has decided to serve only pasta for many of its international flights. The decision was made after approximately 70 passengers became ill from the moldy food during a trip from Detroit to Amsterdam. This is not the first time Delta has faced such issues; in winter last year, maggots were reportedly found on passengers aboard another Delta flight.
In response to this week’s incident, Delta served pasta on approximately 75 international flights on Wednesday and a similar number on Thursday as a precautionary measure. A company spokeswoman told CNBC that “Delta teams have proactively adjusted our in-flight meal service on a number of international flights.
While incidents involving foodborne illnesses on planes are considered rare in the modern era, it is impossible to estimate their true prevalence accurately. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires inspections of airline caterers, but penalties for safety violations are rarely given. In recent years, some caterers have been found to harbor dangerous bacteria such as Listeria monocytogene.
According to an environmental health inspector, the lack of adherence to proper food handling and safety rules in airline catering is a repeated pattern, posing potential risks for passengers. The FDA only inspects caterers behind airlines every three to five years and often exempts them from its food code and safety rules.
In addition to the recent issues with Delta flights, Gate Gourmet, a caterer working with Delta and other airlines, may go on strike at the end of the month, potentially worsening the situation for airline passengers concerned about their in-flight meals.
