Staff at an organization that prepares airline meals subsequent to Los Angeles Worldwide Airport say they uncovered mildew, maggots and cockroaches inside their facility — prompting a security grievance over what they describe as hazardous working situations.
UNITE HERE Native 11 filed the grievance with the California Division of Occupational Security and Well being (Cal/OSHA), alleging staff at Flying Meals Group’s LAX catering facility have been compelled to work in unsanitary situations that put their well being in danger, KTLA reported.
The corporate provides in-flight meals for dozens of home and worldwide airways.
In line with the grievance, a employee opened airline dish carts that had been sitting for an prolonged interval in June 2026 and located decomposing meals lined with mildew, flies and maggots. Pictures submitted by the union seem to indicate the contaminated dishes.
“It’s unbelievable how a lot mildew, how disgusting they’re,” mentioned Sunan Minato, co-president of UNITE HERE Native 11. “The poor girl acquired very sick and these are services that put together hundreds of airline meals.”
The employee prompt throwing the dishes away however mentioned a supervisor instructed her to clean them as an alternative as a result of they have been wanted for an upcoming flight.
The union mentioned the worker later reported abdomen ache, a headache and an odd sensation in her nostril after dealing with what it described as “noxious materials” with out being offered a masks or respirator.
Staff additionally alleged they repeatedly noticed cockroaches and different vermin all through the ability, together with in meals preparation areas, close to worker altering stations, round airline meals carts and inside the worker cafeteria.
The grievance additional alleges bogs and handwashing stations incessantly ran out of cleaning soap or paper towels, forcing staff to look elsewhere for provides earlier than returning to meals preparation duties.
Workers additionally raised issues about temperatures inside the ability’s dish room.
A longtime employee mentioned warmth and humidity repeatedly made the room really feel like “being in a sauna,” resulting in fatigue, dehydration and complications, and claimed a coworker almost fainted due to the situations.
“It’s unbelievable that staff should stay beneath these situations,” Minato defined. “It’s unsafe.”
The union mentioned it has submitted images, movies and employee testimony to Cal/OSHA and is looking for an expedited on-site inspection.
Union officers claimed Flying Meals Group’s LAX operations “have an extended file of alleged security violations.” They pointed to a Might 2026 Cal/OSHA inspection that resulted in six citations, together with 4 violations labeled as “severe.”
“Firms generally do issues till they’re advised to not and so this grievance particularly, we expect, may be very crucial,” Minato mentioned.
The Metropolis of Los Angeles has additionally launched an investigation into the corporate’s security and labor practices.
Mayor Karen Bass’ workplace highlighted the grievance in a press release, saying that the mayor takes “allegations about this airport contractor critically and is engaged with UNITE HERE Native 11 and Los Angeles World Airports to ensure they’re appropriately investigated and addressed.”
UNITE HERE Native 11 represents greater than 32,000 hospitality staff in Southern California and Arizona who work in motels, eating places, universities, conference facilities and airports.
