Delta halts hot meal service on dozens of Detroit flights citing 'food safety issues' with caterers

Delta Air Lines “Food safety issues” have forced the suspension of hot meal service on more than 200 flights from its Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport hub over the past few days.

Delta said operations from the facility have been discontinued and hot meals will be handled by other kitchens.

“During a recent inspection of a DTW kitchen, Delta's catering partner was notified of a food safety issue at the facility,” Delta said in a statement Sunday. “Delta and its catering partners immediately ceased hot food production and subsequently suspended all operations from the facility. Hot food and other onboard services will be operated from other facilities.”

A message to a flight crew on Friday said first class meals could not be loaded due to “an unexpected supply chain issue” and that the flight would be stocked with extra meals.

The Food and Drug Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.

The carrier said there were no reports of employee or customer illness and that it offered travel vouchers or frequent flyer miles to affected customers as compensation.

Airlines serve meals to thousands of passengers a day, usually through third-party catering kitchens. Du & Co., which works with Delta, did not immediately comment.

In July, a Detroit-to-Amsterdam Delta flight diverted to New York because of a report of spoiled chicken, forcing the carrier to limit pasta meals on certain flights for several days.