HONG KONG- The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) concluded its epidemiological investigation into food poisoning clusters on two Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) flights from Kathmandu, Nepal.
Investigators identified beetroot salad potentially contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus as the probable cause of illness.
Photo: Cathay Pacific Catering Services (CPCS)Cathay Pacific Passengers Sick
A total of 43 passengers (22 men and 21 women) developed food poisoning symptoms after consuming in-flight meals on January 8 and 9.
Passengers aged between 11 and 75 experienced vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea within 10 to 60 minutes of eating. No hospitalizations were required.
Stool samples from two patients tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus. The CHP conducted comprehensive interviews with 120 passengers, analyzing food consumption before and during the flights.
Analysis revealed that all 43 affected passengers had consumed on-board catering, with beetroot salad identified as the statistically significant risk factor.
From approximately 500 food servings, two samples tested showed no Staphylococcus aureus exceeding food safety standards. However, investigators discovered that the beetroot salad’s preparation involved multiple manual handling steps increasing contamination risks.
Photo: Clément AlloingCHP staff inspected the food factory twice, identifying potential hygiene vulnerabilities. On January 10, the agency instructed the factory to cease supplying beetroot salad to these flights, after which no further food poisoning incidents were reported.
Recommended risk mitigation strategies include minimizing manual food handling, using utensils to avoid direct hand contact with ingredients, and mandating strict hand hygiene guidelines for food handlers, particularly during preparation stages without subsequent heating.
In short, the investigation suggests the beetroot salad was likely contaminated, causing the widespread food poisoning incident across the flights.
Photo: Denver AirportSimilar Incidents
A significant food poisoning outbreak at Denver International Airport affected over 200 United Airlines flight attendants and employees who consumed holiday meals. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA confirmed a direct correlation between the meal service and reported illness symptoms.
This incident follows multiple food safety challenges in the aviation industry during late 2024. Delta Air Lines suspended hot meal service on over 200 Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport flights in October due to catering facility safety concerns.
A separate international food-related outbreak occurred in November 2024 at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, involving flights from Guam. Japan Airlines Flight JL942 and United Airlines Flight UA873 reported 34 combined ill passengers, with fourteen requiring hospitalization. Japan Airlines concluded that contamination likely originated in Guam before flight departure, ruling out inflight meals as the primary source.
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The post Beetroot Salad Served on Cathay Pacific Flight Sicken 43 Passengers appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
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