Record GL-10
FDA citations to airline caterers exceed 1,486 since 2008
| Date of record | Analysis published 2019, covering October 2008 onward |
|---|---|
| Location | United States — multiple facilities |
| Type | Regulatory citation pattern |
| Source tier | Tier 1 — national news analysis of federal inspection data |
What the record shows
An analysis of more than a decade of federal food safety inspection data found the FDA issued at least 1,486 citations to the three major airline caterers and to 16 airlines from October 2008 onward. A substantial proportion related to failure to hold food at correct temperatures.
The same analysis identified 501 citations relating to contamination and sanitation, and 36 relating to control of rodents, flies and other vermin.
Evidence gap
The record establishes that temperature control failures occur at scale. It does not establish what happened to any individual meal, cart or flight. No public record links a citation to specific food that reached specific passengers, nor shows its temperature history after leaving the facility.
This entry records citation volume only. No caterer is identified as being at fault for any illness.