More than 200 Delta Airlines flights from Detroit were forced to suspend meal service after the Food and Drug Administration flagged a “food safety issue” during a routine inspection at the airline’s catering facility. The discovery last Friday prompted Delta to shut down meal production immediately, halting both hot and cold food services.
The airline has not disclosed specific details about the problem, but it confirmed that no passengers or employees were affected by illness. Delta emphasized that safety remains its top priority as they investigate the cause of the issue.
Delta plans to shift meal preparation to other facilities while making changes to how food is prepared on future flights. This will allow the airline to restore meal service without compromising safety, ensuring travelers can enjoy meals on longer flights again soon.
Passengers on impacted flights, which took place between Friday and Sunday, were offered travel vouchers or additional frequent flyer miles as compensation for the lack of meal service. Delta provides hot meals to travelers on international flights and in premium classes on domestic coast-to-coast routes.
Earlier this year, Delta faced a similar issue when a flight from Detroit to Amsterdam had to make an emergency landing in New York after passengers were served spoiled chicken. Multiple passengers fell ill, prompting the plane to divert and the airline to apologize for the incident.
As Delta works to address the FDA’s latest findings, the airline is focused on maintaining its commitment to safety and passenger comfort. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the current situation, and meal service is expected to resume soon with added precautions.