Delta Airlines canceled in-flight meal service on more than 200 flights departing from Detroit Metro Airport after the Food and Drug Administration flagged a “food safety issue” during an inspection of the airline’s catering partner. The discovery last Friday led Delta to shut down meal production, affecting flights between Friday and Sunday.
Delta has not released specific information about the nature of the safety issue, but the airline confirmed that no passengers or employees became sick. As a result, Delta has suspended operations at the facility in question and shifted meal production to other locations to maintain service without compromising safety.
Passengers who were affected received travel vouchers or frequent flyer miles as compensation for the lack of meals. The airline typically provides hot meals on long international flights and to premium passengers on select domestic routes, so the suspension of meal service impacted a significant number of travelers.
Delta plans to continue making adjustments to both hot and cold meal preparations while it works with the FDA to resolve the issue. The airline assured customers that it will take “necessary precautions” to prevent future problems and keep passenger safety a top priority.
This is not the first time Delta has encountered a food safety problem. In July, a flight from Detroit to Amsterdam was forced to make an emergency landing after passengers were served moldy chicken. The incident resulted in numerous illnesses and a diversion to New York’s JFK Airport.
With the FDA closely monitoring the situation, Delta has promised to improve its food safety measures and prevent further issues. The airline remains focused on restoring full meal service while maintaining high safety standards for its passengers.
