Mice, Roaches Seen by FDA Inspecting Airline Food
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Food and Drug Administration(NEW YORK) — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered mice, ants and roaches when they inspected airlines and their outside caterers.
Through a Freedom of Information Act request, 20/20 obtained lists of recent health violation records from the FDA, the agency in charge of inspecting airlines and their outside food caterers.
Over almost four years, the industry counted more than 1,500 health violations. “Significant” problems were found at a much higher rate than in other industries the FDA inspects, the agency said.
“You put that all together, and you have a time bomb,” said Roy Costa, a food-industry consultant and former health inspector.
The FDA reported evidence of mice on Delta Airlines planes. In a statement, the airline said, “This clearly was an isolated incident and we cooperated with the FDA immediately to resolve it immediately after it was brought to our attention. The health and safety of Delta’s customers and employees are Delta’s top priority. We take this issue very seriously and have an established routine servicing program to inspect our aircraft.”
About other conditions found by the FDA, the airline said in a statement, “These FDA inspections, some dating to 2009, are related to inspections of lavatory service trucks and aircraft potable water. We began addressing the action items the FDA set forth immediately. Delta’s deepest core value is the safety of our customers.”
Then there’s LSG Sky Chefs, the industry giant that provides food to many airlines. Records showed company food facilities infested with ants crawling over discarded food, flies both dead and alive — and roaches all over.
If insects are in the room, they’re probably in the food, Costa said.
“You can’t have insect remains and feces of rodents and dead flies [in these areas],” Costa said.
In a statement, LSG Sky Chefs said, “Our facilities are inspected by several internal and external agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As with any FDA inspection, documented observations are indicated on a 483 form and if observations are cited at our facilities we immediately review and correct. In two cases, the FDA 483 forms led to the issuing of warning letters that were immediately addressed by us to ensure complete FDA compliance.”
“In the U.S., we cater tens of millions of meals per year that are subject to far more oversight than those served in other industries. Food safety and quality are our number one priority and our multi-layered quality control system has helped ensure the quality and safety of the meals we provide. These rigorous FDA inspections are one of many steps that assure the safety and quality of the meals we serve. All of our kitchens are FDA registered and are in compliance with the regulations.”
At company after company, the FDA saw things like dirty cooking areas, old or moldy products and employees not washing their hands.
Gate Gourmet serves many top airlines. At their facilities inspectors found roaches, gnats (“too numerous to count”), unrefrigerated food, utensils on dirty racks, and more. In its defense, Gate Gourmet told 20/20 in a statement, “None of the FDA’s observations … indicated a threat to the health of the traveling public.”
Costa disagreed: “Those things are direct threats to public health.”
Gate Gourmet, LSG Sky Chefs and other caterers and major airlines told 20/20 they take food sanitation very seriously, and fix any problems immediately. They also said they serve millions of meals without incident.
That may be irrelevant to those who claim they were the exception.
In late 2011 the family of a Miami man sued American Airlines, claiming he died from eating bacteria-contaminated food on a flight. American told 20/20 his illness was unrelated to its food.
In a statement, American said, “Mr. Cortes, a 73-year-old man traveling with his wife from Barcelona to JFK with an ultimate destination of Miami, required medical assistance approximately 35 minutes into his flight from JFK to Miami. We have thoroughly investigated Mrs. Cortes’ claims and while we are saddened by the death of her husband, we are confident the facts will prove that his death was in no way related to food he consumed onboard our aircraft.”
And those who fly business or first class and think the curtain protects them from the risk of contaminated food should think again, Costa warned.
“Fancy food isn’t safe food. The bacteria really don’t care.”
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio