© Associated PressCockroaches and mice have been found in airline food preparation areas.
Your airline meal may have been prepared among mice, ants and cockroaches.
That's according to US TV news program 20/20. The show has uncovered the dirt on airline food via a freedom of information act, revealing exactly what the US Food and Drug Administration found when it inspected airlines and their caterers.
More than 1500 health violations were discovered over almost four years, with "significant" problems found at a much higher rather than in other industries.
Food facilities at LSG Sky Chefs, a major provider of airline food, were found to be infested with ants, dead and live flies, and cockroaches "all over".
"You can't have insect remains and feces of rodents and dead flies (in these areas)," former health inspector Roy Costa told ABC News.
Roaches and gnats "too numerous to count", unrefrigerated food and dirty areas were found at another catering company, Gate Gourmet. The company said it fixes any problems immediately and claims "none of the FDA's observations... indicated a threat to the health of the travelling public".
Meanwhile, mice were found on a Delta Airlines planes, which the airline said was an isolated incident.
There were also incidents involving old or mouldy products and employees not washing their hands.
Read the full statements from the companies involved here.
Reader Comments
I remember when flying used to be a rather pleasant experience. I am old. The insults to the sensibilities of commercial airline travel has completely alienated me. I haven't flown in almost a decade and it would take rather urgent circumstances to get me in another airliner.
I've ordered the kosher meal when possible. I get stares by passengers, but if we all did it, that would show them that we refuse to eat the garbage they give us.
Another problem with regular meals is they tend to overdo it on pasta and dairy.. both no-no's in the diet.