Maggots, Roaches Seen at Airline Catering Facility
Workers allege the caterer reused contaminated dishes and faced repeated safety lapses, while Cal/OSHA received photos, videos and testimony from the union.
- UNITE HERE Local 11 filed a safety complaint against the Flying Food Group facility in Inglewood, alleging workers face exposure to maggots, mold, and cockroaches while preparing meals for airlines at Los Angeles International Airport.
- According to the complaint, an employee in late June 2026 discovered decomposing food covered in mold and maggots inside unopened dish carts; a supervisor allegedly ordered her to clean the dishes for reuse on an upcoming flight.
- The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reviewing evidence including photos and worker testimony, while additional complaints cite dangerously high dish room temperatures and frequently missing soap at handwashing stations.
- Flying Food Group stated it is reviewing the allegations and cooperating with regulators, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said her office is engaged with the union and airport officials to ensure appropriate investigation.
- Maria Hernandez, press secretary for UNITE HERE Local 11, claims workers have spoken to the Board of Airport Commissioners about labor abuses on no fewer than 50 occasions, yet airport leadership has not taken meaningful action.
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17 Articles
Several thousand board meals are prepared daily in the affected facility near Los Angeles International Airport.
Maggots and cockroaches seen at airline catering facility, staff allege
Employees at a Los Angeles airline catering facility, providing meals for major international airlines, have filed a safety complaint alleging exposure to maggots, mold and vermin while they work.
Mold, Maggots, Cockroaches: Disturbing Allegations At Major LAX Airline Caterer
The allegations coming out of a major airline catering facility near Los Angeles International Airport are stomach-turning: workers say they found mold-covered dishes, maggots, flies, cockroaches, and filthy carts, yet were allegedly told to clean some of the dishes and put them back into service. LAX Airline Caterer Accused Of Mold, Maggots, Cockroaches, And Reusing Filthy Dishes Workers at Flying Food Group, a large airline caterer serving Los…
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