Workers at a Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) catering company have filed a complaint alleging unsanitary and unsafe working conditions, including the presence of mold, maggots, and cockroaches. UNITE HERE Local 11 submitted a complaint to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) on behalf of employees at Flying Food Group, a company that prepares meals for numerous domestic and international airlines.
According to the complaint, in June 2026, an employee discovered decomposing food covered in mold, flies, and maggots inside airline dish carts that had been left out for an extended period. Photographs submitted by the union appear to support these claims.
"It’s unbelievable how much mold, how disgusting they are," said Sunan Minato, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11. "The poor woman got very sick and these are facilities that prepare thousands of airline meals." The union reported that the employee was instructed by a supervisor to wash the contaminated dishes for an upcoming flight, rather than discard them. The employee later experienced stomach pain, headache, and a nasal sensation after handling the material without protective gear, according to the union.
Workers also reported consistently seeing cockroaches and other vermin throughout the facility, including in food preparation areas, near employee changing stations, and within the employee cafeteria. The complaint further alleges that bathrooms and handwashing stations frequently lacked soap or paper towels, requiring employees to seek supplies elsewhere before resuming food preparation duties.
Concerns were also raised about the temperature in the facility's dish room, described by one worker as feeling like "being in a sauna" due to heat and humidity. This condition reportedly led to fatigue, dehydration, and headaches, with one coworker nearly fainting.
The union has provided photographs, videos, and worker testimony to Cal/OSHA and is requesting an expedited on-site inspection. "It’s unbelievable that workers have to live under these conditions. It’s unsafe," Minato stated.
Union officials noted that Flying Food Group's LAX operations have a history of alleged safety violations, citing a May 2026 Cal/OSHA inspection that resulted in six citations, four of which were classified as "serious."
The City of Los Angeles has also initiated an investigation into the company's safety and labor practices. Mayor Karen Bass' office acknowledged the complaint, stating that allegations against the airport contractor are taken seriously and are being appropriately investigated and addressed in coordination with UNITE HERE Local 11 and Los Angeles World Airports. UNITE HERE Local 11 represents over 32,000 hospitality workers across Southern California and Arizona.