Over 200 Delta flights out of Detroit Metro Airport canceled in-flight meal service over the weekend following an order from the Food and Drug Administration. FDA officials were conducting a routine inspection at the kitchen of Delta’s catering partner when they discovered a “food safety issue” on Friday, the airline said but did not elaborate the actual issue.The airline only said no customers or employees were sickened.
“Delta and its catering partner immediately shut down hot food production and subsequently suspended all activity from the facility,” the airline said in a statement.
The cause of the food safety issue has not been officially determined but the airline said it will be now changing how it prepared both hot and cold food in order to restore meal services on flights. “Hot food and other onboard provisioning will be managed from other facilities,” Delta said, adding that “we will continue to take necessary precautions to ensure food safety.”
CBS News reported that between Friday and Sunday, passengers on more than 200 Delta flights were denied meal service. To compensate, the airline provided travel vouchers or frequent flier miles, a spokesperson said.
Delta’s food catering partner in Detroit is Do&Co. “During a recent inspection at a Detroit Metro Airport kitchen, Delta’s catering partner was notified of a food safety issue within the facility. Delta and its catering partner immediately shut down hot food production and subsequently suspended all activity from the facility,” the airline said in a statement.
Delta usually only provides hot meals on flights over 900 miles and full meal service on flights over 2,300 miles. On Monday’s flights, passengers were treated to sandwiches from Panera Bread and offered a measly 2,500 SkyMiles by way of compensation, DailyMail reported.