Who mentioned anything about checking for contamination or cleaning before repackaging :p ? Just send them along with the headphones ....

I don't know about unused cutlery etc, but I was once told by a FA that any food that is not consumed on the flight is tossed out, even if it hasn't been issued to a passenger. Can anyone confirm this? If it's true, surely there must be a better way.

Food spoilage can upset many a person. You may have seen restaurants resisting giving out doggy bags. They have no control over food handling and storage. It only takes a matter of hours for some food bugs to multiply to dangerous levels. Food must be kept above or below certain temperatures to minimise the multiplication of bugs (that's the technical term for bacteria). Once its out of the fridge or out of the oven, it goes off fast. Many in the food industry suspect that food poisoning is very prevalent in the community - often regarded as a tummy bug or bad hangover. Realistically, its probably that 2 week old pizza that hung around on the bench overnight before going in the fridge (or whatever).

Its cheaper for airlines to dump unused food than fight with the coroner in court.

I am sure some of the food I have been offered on planes looks like it having its third or fourth flight. Especially the bread rolls.

Another reason to avoid flying the middle or end legs of routes where the same aircraft makes lots of short hops.

Media Report - Jetstar hits snag
 

QANTAS' new budget airline Jetstar hit a hurdle today when a hydraulic problem on one of its planes caused a four-hour delay to a flight from Sydney to Maroochydore in Queensland.

Well, someone's first impressions were not too positive! But then again, try and find any airline that has not experienced a 4 hour delay due to a mechanical problem.

Singapore Airlines?

They just take off regardless........