You Might Want to Avoid Connecting in Denver if You are Traveling in United First

I grimaced when I saw this thread on FlyerTalk today:

The FDA has changed the classification of LSG Sky Chefs’ Denver facility from “Approved” to “Provisional” based on an inspection that turned up some real stomach turning findings, such as

Cart wash area – Live and dead roach-like insects too numerous to count (TNTC)

Silverware station – At least 40 live roaches as well as other insects

The hot kitchen – At least eight dead and one live roach insects were observed in and around the walls of the hot kitchen

Repack area – Live roaches (TNTC), as well as ants

Pots and pans warewashing room – At least four live and dead roaches, flies

Dish machine wash area – At least 13 dead roaches inside the machine loading area and 31 or more dead nearby the machine

Wash area – At least four live roaches on walls and floors

The description above is verbatim from the FDA’s warning letter to LSG Sky Chefs.

I am surprised to hear this news. LSG is owned and run by Lufthansa, not the kind of company you would associate with cockroaches and ants. Have you ever been on a dirty LH plane before? It appears their catering facilities, at least in DEN, are not up to the same standard.

And my title is a bit misleading: LSG has catering contracts in DEN not only with United, but with Lufthansa (duh), Alaska, American, and Mexicana. Consider yourself warned!

I wouldn’t worry too much about this going forward, though. I am confident LH will move quickly to address embarassing problem and insure that it does not happen again.

At the same time, I can’t help feeling just a little queasy about my steak dinner from DEN-PHL a couple weeks ago:

a tray with food on it