The FDA smacks Delta Airlines with violations for downright nastiness.

Image courtesy of hywards at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, it recently became apparent that the food you eat on Delta flights might be, well, unsanitary.  Back in February 2011, Delta Airlines was hit with an FDA Form 483 (the form given when the FDA finds violations of law during an inspection) for not keeping their galleys free of “flies, rodents, and other vermin.”   

 Specifically, the observation lists four violations:

1. The forward galley having 8-11 “apparent rodent excreta pellets” above where the food is prepared.
2. Another 10-20 excreta pellets found near the same area where food is prepared.
3. And yet another approximate “9-15 apparent rodent excreta pellets” found in what sounds like the carry-on luggage compartments above the seats.
4. Multiple overhead panels containing too many excreta pellets to count.  These were found directly above where food and drinks were stored.  In addition to that, the inspectors found six ceiling panels with apparent rodent urine present.  

Eww.  That’s just nasty.  You always fear that this could be the case at your local greasy burger joint, but who would have thought that your $7 drink and crackers could be coming with more than you bargained for.    

 

I really hope that Delta got their act together following this inspection in 2011.  Given that I’ve personally flown with them more times than I’d like to admit during and since that time, I’d prefer to think that I'm not sitting near, eating, or drinking any more crap than they have always given me in the past.  Oh, and by the way, your flight has been delayed until next week.  Have fun driving to your destination! 

So, not only do you have to wait in the “peasant line” while their Gold-Platinum-Diamond-Ruby-Emerald-Sapphire-I-paid-more-than-you-and-have-their-credit-card-members board first, now you have to worry about nastiness in your food, drinks, and storage areas.  Gross.  And to think, that’s only what they found during the inspection.  It concerns me to think what was present that wasn’t found.   Unfortunately, the vendors that supply a lot of the food provided to airlines have come under the gun multiple times in the past.  Just search "airlines cited by FDA" for a stomach-turning night of light reading.  However, it's not every day that the actual airline is found in violation of the law in such a grotesque manner. 

Looks like I’m going to be flying Southwest or United from here on out. *shudders*    

Surprised to learn this about Delta?  Leave your comments below and please, feel free to share it so that others are informed.  Help control the chaos by building a more informed consumer population!