Delta Airlines has temporarily shifted to a pasta-only menu for many of its international flights. This decision follows an incident where spoiled food on a flight from Detroit to Amsterdam caused widespread illness among passengers, prompting an emergency landing. Early on the morning of July 3, Delta Flight 136, carrying 277 passengers, diverted to John F. Kennedy Airport after crew members discovered that some meals served in the economy class were spoiled.
According to reports, approximately 70 passengers fell ill after consuming the tainted food, which allegedly contained black mold. Emergency medical personnel met the flight upon landing and treated several passengers on-site, although none required hospitalization.
Delta’s New Pasta-Only Menu
In response to the incident, Delta Airlines announced an immediate shift to a pasta-only menu for its international flights. A company spokesperson explained to CNBC, “Out of an abundance of caution, Delta teams have proactively adjusted our in-flight meal service on a number of international flights.”
This change impacted approximately 75 flights on both the 3rd and 4th of July, with the airline aiming to prevent any further food safety issues while conducting a thorough review of its catering processes.
The shift to a pasta-only menu has garnered mixed reactions from passengers and industry experts. Some passengers expressed relief at the increased safety measures. Others, however, have lamented the lack of variety in their in-flight dining options. Nonetheless, the shift has logistical issues. Catering procedures need to change, and suppliers must guarantee a steady supply of high-quality pasta meals. If customers are unhappy with the restricted menu options, Delta has an additional responsibility to manage their expectations.
Still, Delta Airlines claims to be working diligently to resolve the underlying issues that led to the spoiled food incident. The company’s Food Safety team has engaged suppliers to isolate the problematic products and conduct a thorough investigation. “This is not the service Delta is known for, and we sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and delay in their travels,” a Delta spokesperson remarked.
