Sick passengers take legal action
Airline passengers across the US, Japan, Australia and American Somoa are taking legal action after suffering food poisoning on several flights from Honolulu.
The incidents happened last August, but has this week led to at least one lawsuit against airline caterer Gate Gourmet, which is based in Virginia and Switzerland.?The affected passengers are thought to have eaten contaminated carrots and up to nine more lawsuits are expected.
Gate Gourmet provides meals for Northwest, Delta, United, Hawaiian and Aloha Airlines.
On April 21 the company received a warning letter from the US Federal Food and Drug Administration, citing violations found during an inspection of its Honolulu facility in February.
Inspectors found a “pink, slimy substance” dripping into the conveyor of the pot washing machine, live cockroaches and flies, and mould growing on the windows of a refrigerator.
The company, which has locations in 30 countries, claimed it responded quickly to the April letter and said the investigation of the August illnesses had not definitely identified the source of the contamination.
A Gate Gourmet spokesman said it had made several changes, including repairing equipment, training employees, cleaning and changing top management.
The spokesman added: “As a result of these efforts, our Honolulu facility has passed its most recent inspection.”
According to one lawsuit, a Florida resident became ill with nauseau, diarrhoea, cramps, fever and tremors three days after a Northwest Airlines flight from Honolulu to Minneapolis. He tested positive for Shigella sonnei bacteria.
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Phil Davies
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