United employees at DIA reported becoming ill after eating the holiday meal

DENVER – United Airlines said it is “monitoring reports” after dozens of employees at Denver International Airport allegedly became ill after eating a meal from the company on Christmas Day.

According to a letter from the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), Council 9, which represents Denver and Phoenix, received “several reports from members who may have become ill” after eating the holiday meal in Denver on Wednesday.

According to the AFA, there were 492 holiday meals delivered to the flight attendants, and 24 people reported symptoms “equivalent to food poisoning.”

The Association of Flight Attendants

Previously, the AFA believed that around “200 employees” had been affected. But in its update, the AFA adjusted that number to 24, “far fewer than our original estimate of those affected and which we reported in last night’s newsletter.”

Denver7 spoke with a flight attendant who did not want to share her identity for fear of retaliation. The employee said he felt sick and began suffering from nausea and diarrhea shortly after eating the plate of food.

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He said employees were required to scan their badge to grab a meal. The flight attendant told Denver7 that many of his coworkers who ate the meal also felt sick afterward.

According to the employee, United Airlines has a strict policy when it comes to calling in sick during the holidays.

The company allegedly requires employees to provide a specific medical certificate (Certificate of Leave of Absence), which must be completed within 48 hours. The employee said that those who do not provide it could face consequences such as “performance warnings.”

The employee said because of this, several flight attendants he knew went to work even though they felt sick.

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In its update, the AFA said any employee who may have been affected would not be required to produce the holiday absence certificate in these circumstances.

A United Airlines spokesperson issued the following statement, “United is monitoring reports from some employees of gastrointestinal symptoms following holiday meals served to Denver employees on Wednesday, and we are in contact with health authorities. There has been no impact on our operations.”