Staff at airline catering company Flying Food Group have filed a safety complaint with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), alleging exposure to unsanitary conditions including maggots, mold, and cockroaches at their Inglewood facility. The company prepares approximately 120 million meals annually for over 75 airlines.
UNITE HERE Local 11, a trade union representing the workers, submitted the complaint, which details allegations of vermin in food preparation areas, inadequate hygiene facilities, and excessive heat. One complaint recounts an incident in June 2026 where an employee allegedly discovered decomposing food with maggots and flies in unopened airline dish carts and was instructed to wash them for an upcoming flight.
The union also cited concerns about the quality of food provided to employees, including allegations of expired bread and improperly stored items. High temperatures in the dish room were also reported, with one employee describing conditions akin to a "sauna" that caused fatigue and headaches.
Flying Food Group has broadly rejected the allegations, calling them "false and misleading." In a statement, the company asserted that the complaint "does not accurately describe conditions at our facility" and suggested that photographs submitted with the complaint may have been "staged, manipulated, taken out of context, or otherwise presented in a manner that distorts their meaning." The company is reviewing how the images were created and presented.
Virgin Atlantic, a client of Flying Food Group since June 17, 2025, stated it is aware of the allegations and taking them seriously. The airline has reported no evidence to date that catering supplied to its customers has been affected and remains in close contact with the supplier. Flying Food Group has informed Virgin Atlantic that the allegations remain unverified.
This complaint follows a history of alleged safety violations at Flying Food Group's Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) operations. In May 2026, Cal/OSHA issued six citations, four of which were classified as "Serious." These included failures related to the safe operation of cold storage rooms at two facilities. LAX authorities recently granted Flying Food Group a six-month license extension, ending in late 2026, and the city has initiated an investigation into the company's safety and labor practices.