Gross! FDA Warns Delta Over Rodent Droppings

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned Delta after rodent droppings “too numerous to count” were found onboard a Delta aircraft.

According to msnbc, “The Food and Drug Administration sent a warning letter on April 13 to Richard Anderson, the airline’s chief executive, citing violations from an inspection that took place between Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 of a Delta plane. The inspection took place at a Delta hangar near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.”

Here are the, shall we say, intimate details of the FDA’s findings.

• Approximately 8-11 rodent excreta pellets above the right door panel in the forward galley (G1) where food is prepared by flight personnel
• Approximately 10-20 rodent excreta pellets above the left door panel in the forward galley (G1) where food is prepared by flight personnel
• Approximately 9-15 rodent excreta pellets on the right aisle of the aircraft over seats C3-C7
• Rodent excreta pellets (too numerous to count) in three areas in ceiling panels located in the middle cross over galley G2, which is directly over places where food and drinks are stored in the aircraft
• Mammalian urine in six areas on ceiling panels located in the middle cross over galley G2

The text of the letter is here.

Delta spokesperson Ashley Black told Bloomberg News that Delta resolved the situation by trapping and removing the rodent, believed to be a roof rat, which is a common black rat. Black added, “We believe this was an isolated incident and we cooperated with the FDA immediately to resolve it.”

Too bad Delta couldn’t land Remy from “Ratatouille.” A new era for airplane food!