After several passengers were served spoiled meals, Delta Air Lines temporarily closed a meal preparation facility in Detroit on Friday. This decision followed early indications of a “food safety issue” identified during a routine inspection by the Food and Drug Administration, as stated by the airline.

The complete halt of operations in the airline’s catering partner’s kitchen meant that over 200 flights departing from Detroit Metropolitan Airport went without meal service during the weekend.

“In light of this situation, Delta and its catering partner decided to immediately cease hot food preparation and all activities at the facility,” a Delta representative informed YSL News.

Fortunately, there were no illnesses reported among customers or staff.

Delta indicated that they have shifted food preparation and distribution to a different facility. Some meal options were available again for flights from Detroit on Monday, and those affected were informed via email. The airline anticipates full meal service to resume by Saturday.

“Our commitment to safety remains our primary concern, and we will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure food safety. We apologize for the inconvenience caused to our affected customers,” the spokesperson added.

Airlines often collaborate with external vendors for food preparation, which is then re-heated during the flight, especially for routes that lack catering options. For instance, Delta operates four facilities in Atlanta, including one managed by Newrest Catering, which produces about 6,800 meals daily, offering both hot and cold options for passengers and crew.

In July, a Delta flight traveling from Detroit to Amsterdam had to divert to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport because some economy passengers received spoiled meals. It remains unclear how many passengers consumed the tainted food, though a dozen were evaluated upon landing, and no one required medical treatment.

Delta stated that the previous incident is not related to the recent FDA findings in Detroit, as the spoiled food was sourced from a different facility. An investigation was conducted then, finding no systemic issues.