On Wednesday, a Delta Air Lines flight heading to Amsterdam had to make an emergency landing as a result of passengers being served chicken that some claimed was "moldy." More than a dozen passengers fell ill after eating the meal, leading to the aircraft landing urgently at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport shortly after taking off from Detroit.
CBS News has obtained photographs of the meals, which show visible mold on the meat. This is the second day in a row that Delta has removed meals from flights. The specific symptoms suffered by the ill passengers have not been made public.
"Some mycotoxins can be extremely harmful," Detwiler clarifies. "They can bring about gastrointestinal problems like vomiting and diarrhea, and in certain cases, neurological issues." Detwiler points out that these symptoms can be especially troublesome for passengers to handle while on an airplane.
According to food safety expert Ellen Shumaker, Ph.D., director of outreach for the Safe Plates program at North Carolina State University, mold is also a sign of spoilage. She elaborates, "Although spoilage does not directly cause foodborne illness, it can nonetheless cause discomfort in the stomach and nausea due to its unpleasant tastes and smells.
"Detwiler emphasizes that it can be difficult to tell if chicken has gone bad just by looking at it, unless there is obvious mold. "You wouldn't know for sure until you actually opened the package," he explains. He also notes that some people might not notice the mold if they are not paying close attention or if the chicken is covered in sauce.
Shumaker asserts that spoiled chicken might have an unpleasant smell and flavor. However, this can be masked by the sauces and seasonings used in the recipe.
In theory, yes, airplane water is safe to drink. Many passengers have consumed it without incident, and airlines are required to clean their water tanks regularly with a non-toxic solution and test the water to ensure it meets safety standards. Additionally, if you're considering ordering coffee or tea, the heat used to prepare it should be sufficient to kill most common pathogens.
Although several flight attendants, including Kat Kamalani, have reported on social media that water tanks and pipes are not cleaned as frequently as many people would prefer, it is important to note that airplane water is still generally considered safe to drink.
Detwiler emphasizes that food safety is a potential issue for all airlines. Although the Food and Drug Administration regulates food safety for airline caterers and airlines, Detwiler points out that they are inspected less frequently than restaurants.Detwiler recommends opting for pasta over dishes containing meat, but he also emphasizes that the best way to ensure food safety is to understand how it was prepared and stored. "I know people who prefer to bring their own food on the plane," he adds.