Report: Unsanitary Food on Major US Airlines Puts People at Risk Daily

(NewsCore) - Companies that supply in-flight meals to most major U.S. airlines could cause serious illness for "tens of thousands of passengers" every day due to unsafe and unclean practices, according to a government report quote in Monday's USA Today.

From cockroaches and rats near the food to workers with poor hygiene, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report obtained by the newspaper lists several infractions made by the three companies that provide food to Delta, American, United, US Airways and Continental, among others.

The unsanitary environments at LSG Sky Chefs, Gate Gourmet and Flying Food Group, could cause food-poisoning outbreaks and pose a major threat to public health.

"In spite of best efforts by the FDA and industry, the situation with in-flight catered foods is disturbing, getting worse and now poses a real risk of illness and injury to tens of thousands of airline passengers on a daily basis," said Roy Costa, a consultant and public health sanitarian, to the newspaper.

Airlines insisted they have quality control standards in place, while the food companies vehemently denied any unsafe practices. A rep from Gate Gourmet said the findings of the report would be taken "very seriously."

(This article is provided by NewsCore, which aggregates news from around News Corporation.)