easyJet caterer 'used out of date food from bins'

17.03.08

Out of date food scavenged from a smelly skip has been sold to easyJet passengers, an ex-catering firm worker told the Mirror newspaper. He said that he was told to climb into a skip in the firms car park to find sandwiches because there was not enough food for an inflight meal order. 10 packaged Bacon Bloomers salvaged from the skip were sent to the budget airline to be sold to passengers on flights out of Luton Airport, even though they were 2 or 3 days past sell-by dates.

After the tip off, the Mirror launched a surveillance operation and other workers at company - part of the world's largest inflight caterer, Gate Gourmet - confirmed that they had also reused discarded food.

Neil Harding, 28, who worked at the Luton operarion until January, added: ‘If there is a mix-up in the order and after things have been disposed of, they realise there is a problem with that day's delivery. That was when food was fished out of the bins and used a day or two later than it should be.’

Staff interviewed by the Mirror said that the firm could not cope after winning a contract in October to supply meals and drinks for up to 60 Luton easyJet flights a day. A worker at the plant - which operates under its old name Fernley Aviation but is owned by Gate Gourmet - said: ‘When we first started, anything happened, and we didn't give a **** if it was out of date.’

Whistleblower Mr Harding also told the newspaper that some staff had not yet had criminal record checks as required by the Department of Transport. He said: ‘Food is packed in the warehouse and sent into the hold of the planes. It is essential that no one could work there who could be considered a threat to security. This was not the case.’

After the Mirror confronted Gate Gourmet, is says that 'former employees were called at home by panicking bosses'. The firm said an urgent investigation had been launched.

A spokesman told the Mirror: ‘Fernley has received no reports from employees about non-compliant activities, nor have there been any reports of expired products by airline crews or passengers. Safety and security are our highest priorities.’ easyJet said: ‘We expect the highest of standards from all of our suppliers and are investigating.’

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