Dozens of United Airlines employees at Denver International Airport became unwell after eating an airline-provided dinner on Christmas Day.
According to a statement from the Association of Flight Attendants, which represents United employees in Denver and Phoenix, flight attendants were served a total of 492 meals. There were 24 reports of symptoms related to food poisoning.
Denver7 spoke with one flight attendant, who reported feeling sick and experiencing nausea and diarrhea shortly after eating the Christmas plate of food. The employee reported that many of his coworkers who ate the dinner were ill as a result.
He told Denver7 that United Airlines has a rigorous policy requiring employees to submit a doctor’s letter within 48 hours of calling in sick during the holiday season.
A United Airlines representative told Business Insider: “We are monitoring reports from some employees about gastrointestinal symptoms following holiday meals served to Denver employees last Wednesday, and we are in contact with health authorities.” There has been no influence on our operations.”
The AFA initially reported that over 200 employees had become ill after eating the lunch on Christmas Day; but, in a later letter, it stated that the actual number of reports was significantly fewer.
“We appreciate that some may have elected to “push through” or may have been hesitant to phone in ill over the holiday period, or who may have been on their way home and consequently did not miss work.
The union stated that if employees had to call in sick and believed it was due to the lunch, they should email their supervisor and explain that they are among those experiencing symptoms and that any points related with the absence should be deleted.
Although the letter stated that “there is no way to know for sure” whether these were cases of food poisoning because there are viruses circulating that cause similar symptoms, airport management would continue to monitor the situation.
