An in-flight meal provider for several major airlines flying out of Los Angeles International Airport is facing renewed scrutiny after a complaint detailing unsanitary conditions was sent to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, earlier this month.
Photos and video, sent on behalf of workers by the union Unite Here Local 11, showed dozens of dishes with green mold, live maggots and flies, and cockroaches near trashcans inside the Inglewood facility. The complaint alleges that Flying Food Group, which prepares meals for international carriers including Lufthansa, Air France, and Virgin Atlantic, exposed workers to health hazards and unsanitary conditions.
Sonia Cerón, an employee for eight years, identified herself at a Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) board meeting, stating that in late June she was told to clean a cart of dishes left unopened for a prolonged period. She found "dozens of dishes covered in decomposing, mold-covered food" with what appeared to be live maggots and flies, creating an overwhelming stench. Cerón alleged that a supervisor told her the dishes were needed for an upcoming flight, and while handling them, she experienced stomach pain and a headache, believing it was from inhaling the mold, without being provided protective equipment.
Flying Food Group, a Chicago-based corporation with one of its largest facilities in Inglewood, vehemently denied the complaint's substance. In a statement, the company argued the union had put forth a “false and misleading” narrative amid years-long, "protracted and contentious negotiations" for a new contract that expired in 2022. They added that the submitted images "do not accurately depict conditions" at the facility, claiming they were "staged, manipulated, taken out of context, or otherwise presented in a manner that distorts their meaning."
This isn't the first time the company has drawn official attention. Unite Here Local 11 has filed numerous complaints over the years concerning wage and health issues. In 2023, Cal/OSHA issued an $11,000 citation after finding the company failed to ensure exits were unobstructed. The National Labor Relations Board found the company had unlawfully blocked a door, interrogated and intimidated employees about union activity, and fired at least one employee for union involvement in 2024, leading to a $50,000 settlement. More recently, in February 2025, the company settled a class action lawsuit over wage violations for $510,000.
Following a small fire at the facility in January and subsequent worker testimony, LAWA launched a review of Flying Food Group in February, reminding the company of its obligation to adhere to its contractor responsibility program. Cal/OSHA issued an $18,000 fine in May for issues with a cold storage room door, which the company has appealed.