Why airline food can
make you sick....

With the holiday season coming on fast, you might be looking at plane reservations for your travels to see family. If you are, I suggest you think twice before buying any food on the airplane.

While our notorious FDA turns the other cheek at Pharma's mayhem, it occasionally does something right. FDA inspectors report finding live roaches in airline caterers. Many facilities store food at improper temperatures, use unclean equipment, and employ workers with poor hygiene habits.

Roy Costa, a consultant and public health sanitarian officer expressed concern that a bad problem is now much worse. Food-borne disease outbreaks from airplane food might not be a matter of "if" but "when."

Action to take: I'm pleased that airlines have cut costs by eliminating meals on domestic flights. I'd much rather save the cash and prepare my own food. That way I know the quality I'm getting, and its safety. But many airlines still offer food. Please resist the temptation and avoid their offers.

Continued Below...

Instead, I suggest you bring your own food. One meal I consistently bring on flights is tabouli. You can find a box of tabouli mix at the health food store. To prepare it, follow the directions. Then add some extra fine-cut onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes. You'll have a delicious, tasty meal that will be the envy of your fellow passengers.

Ref: USA Today, June 29, 2010.