Listeriosis Discovered in the LAX Kitchen of Gate Gourmet

APFA has been informed by the Company of the discovery of Listeria, the bacterium that causes a serious form of food poisoning called Listeriosis, in the LAX kitchen of Gate Gourmet.

As of this brief, and continuing for at least a week, there will be no further catering of AA flights by Gate Gourmet. It is unclear how this will affect other airlines who also use Gate Gourmet’s services.

Management is currently developing an emergency contingency plan to provide some form of food on our flights leaving LAX.

Please stay tuned to your HI6, as well as your AA.com email, for the latest developments and instructions.

Reservations will be reaching out to passengers traveling from LAX, and contingency plans are being considered to place passengers on other airlines that do not use Gate Gourmet’s services.

Please do not depend on the availability of adequate sustenance for your own personal needs on flights leaving LAX until this crisis is over.

There are no known, or reported, cases of Listeriosis thus far attributable to Gate Gourmet’s catering.

The symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur. But infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness.

Symptoms may begin a few days after you’ve eaten contaminated food, but it may take as long as 30 days or more before the first signs and symptoms of infection begin.

Treatment of listeria infection varies, depending on the severity of the signs and symptoms. Most people with mild symptoms require no treatment. More-serious infections can be treated with antibiotics. During pregnancy, prompt antibiotic treatment may help keep the infection from affecting the baby.

If you suspect that you are experiencing Listeriosis, consult with a medical professional immediately.

The APFA Health and IOD Departments (817-540-0108) remain available to assist any Flight Attendants with questions about this health threat.

Your local APFA representatives will continue to work with our members, and with management, to ensure that our needs are met, our questions are answered, and that we receive the support that we need during this difficult time.

Please stay tuned as developments occur.

John Nikides
APFA LAX Base President