Photos and video evidence reveal unsettling conditions at an in-flight meal preparation facility in Inglewood. Workers reported dishes with green mold, live maggots, and flies to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA). The facility supplies meals for airlines departing from Los Angeles International Airport.
A complaint was lodged against Flying Food Group, the airline catering company, by the union Unite Here Local 11. The union, representing hotel and airport workers, highlights ongoing unsafe working conditions at this facility catering to international airlines like Lufthansa, Air France, and Qantas. The company claims the union’s allegations are false and misrepresentative, stating the provided photos do not accurately depict conditions there.
In one complaint, employee Sonia Cerón, who has been with the company for eight years, reported finding dishes covered in rotting, moldy food. She noted experiencing health issues like stomach pain and headache after handling these dishes. Protective equipment wasn’t provided, according to the complaint.
Flying Food Group is based in Chicago and serves airlines at major airports nationwide, including LAX and others in cities like New York and San Francisco. Unite Here Local 11 has lodged multiple complaints against the Inglewood facility, highlighting issues with wages and health, part of a prolonged negotiation struggle.
In recent years, workers have accused the company of violating labor laws. In 2023, Cal/OSHA fined Flying Food Group $11,000 for blocking emergency exits during a union protest. In 2024, the National Labor Relations Board found the company guilty of labor law violations, resulting in a $50,000 settlement to a wrongfully terminated employee.
Sexual harassment allegations emerged in 2024 and 2025 against a supervisor at Flying Food Group. The company disputed these claims, terminated the supervisor, and faces ongoing investigations by the California Civil Rights Department.
In February 2025, Flying Food Group settled a class action lawsuit over wage violations for $510,000. They were also required to pay workers back wages ordered by the city.
The LA World Airports (LAWA) emphasized Cal/OSHA’s role in health and safety violation adjudications, reminding service providers to comply with the law.
Flying Food Group workers have been union members since 2016. The most recent contract expired in 2022, and no new agreement has been reached. Calls for investigations into the company gained traction this year after a fire and worker testimonies prompted scrutiny from the airport’s governing body.
An incident involving a fire in January heightened attention. Workers faced locked exits during a fire alarm, prompting Cal/OSHA to fine the company $18,000 in May for failing to ensure proper safety measures.
Flying Food Group’s licenses with LAWA and other vendors were up for renewal in June amidst scrutiny over financial dealings and technical challenges at LAX. The airport authority extended the licenses for six months, a shorter duration than usual, without indicating Flying Food Group’s noncompliance.
Airport officials have not commented on the status of the Flying Food Group investigation.