timezone_trooper

Can't speak to the condition of other pax, but frankly I was focused on my own condition and that of my mother. I have zero insight if other passengers became ill or not.

COSPILOT

The Mayo clinic disagrees with you:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...s/syc-20356230

seenitall

Just to suggest that if you and your mother spent substantial time in the lav during this flight, you probably would have noticed if there were a lot of other J PAX doing the same thing. Since pretty much everyone gets the same salad and appetizer, there likely would have been a traffic jam of very uncomfortable people. Unless UA gets reports that there were other unrelated PAX who also became ill, the fact that two related PAX did become ill suggests strongly that the source of the illness was not UA's catering (unless it was a leftover meal from the DEN kitchen)>

prestonh

Possibly suspect either salmonellosis from the plane food or norovirus from somewhere along your travels ahead of the flight. It is possible that foodhandling on and up to the plane can contribute as well as improper refrigeration of the containers etc. (maybe left out a couple of plates or a head of lettuce too long, or had a contaminated leaf, etc.) Everyone also cultures/responds to bacteria challenges at different rates or not at all. There are a host of factors which can explain why only 2 people fell ill or had mild/delayed symptoms.

dsquared37

Actually they don't. Of the 13 specific contaminants listed only 1, Staphylococcus aureus, can be expected to cause problems that quickly, the remainder 8 hours or later. With that in perspective my post holds up rather well.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

spin88

Not sure what else UA can do other than $200, the truth is that absent a test, and other unrelated claims, it is hard to pin on any one source given that Food poisoning can get in anywhere from an hour or two to several days later. And then whatever the contaminate could be on only a few items. Given what you have posted, I strongly suspect UA is the issue (could be unclean plate, unclean handling, or on the food itself) but proving fault is very difficult.

100% agree on the first part, but food poisoning can set in quite quickly, multiple web-sources say as short as "a few hours". Only time I ever got sick, it was two hours after eating it. It was "something tastes pdd" followed by tossing up everything I had eaten two hours later. And given my diet before (nothing that would have food poisoning in it) I am 100% certain of the cause, as was my resident GF who was with me....

Again I believe you, and this is how one traces to the likely source. Just realize that this is still - absent a test - the "likely sources." legally you need a test, or a "cluster" and you have neither. So don't expect more than $200.

p.s. sorry you got stick, no fun, especially in J. This said, I don't blame UA here directly, they use food vendors just like OALs due, and it is Jersey, afterall....

COSPILOT

My wife and I stayed at the Stanley Hotel years ago, had the same thing for dinner, and within 2 hrs both of us were violently ill, so much so we discussed getting a second room to allow both of us access to a bathroom full time that night. We hadn't seen each other in two weeks, so I'm pretty sure it was the dinner. Now maybe it was a curse for staying at the Stanley, as I'm a huge fan of The Shining, but who knows.

prncess674

Just because the OP got sick XX hours after eating on a plane we have not been provided any information about where the OP spent the prior 48 hours. Germs are everywhere and they could have picked up a virus practically anywhere unless they have been living a sterile bubble. I know it is easy to automatically blame food poisoning but diagnosing a single case of food poisoning without a very controlled environment is a bit like nailing jello to the wall.

Rogers1961

Several of us got food poisoning on our flight from TLV to EWR eating lamb chops in Business class. Upon serving us, within three hours several of us started to get the classic symptoms..quite severe for three days. United has some explaining to do ONCE AGAIN. We will see their response as this is not the first time on their International flight.

Also, can someone explain why the Flight Attendants abruptly serve us our meals within the first hour and then for Hours, non-existent unlike their competitors?? It really is comical but sad. So, the lady next to us requested later time and the reaction was a stone face. We are flying United less and less on business international and this is why.

laxmillenial

If by several, you mean more than 2 passengers in business cabin who's travel paths are completely unrelated, not family members traveling together, and the only commonality between each other is that United flight, then, yes, I agree with you.
Was nothing said onboard? FA? Purser? If several were getting sick, I'm sure someone would have noticed something, especially if that meant the lavatories were tied up.

Care to explain the "Once again" comment? Once again usually indicates it's happened to you before? Yet welcome to Flyertalk lol.

The wiki in this thread lays out some advice as to who to contact and report things to, which I would highly encourage you to do.
Consolidated "I think I got food poisoning while traveling with UA", what can I do?

EDIT: The wiki doesn't. Sorry. Report to UA and to the NJ Department of Health since you landed in EWR. My bad.

BlueZebra

I agree...some more info is required before we find guilt. Yes, food poisoning happens sometimes. But it is not easily proved. It is far easier to make blanket accusations without evidence, particularly on a first post.

And, as this appears to be food catered from TLV, wouldn't the caterer have the responsibility?

Rogers1961

No, it was the person behind me as well since we were served this particular entree. Food poisoning builds up slowly so we just coughed it up to normal chills but it really hit later on the flight. There is not much a FA can do by voicing our concerns as many of us know the service with UNITED is so so lacking now. Both of them were reading their books in front behind the curtains which a GS person told us is standard practice with UNITED on long trips. Sorry, but United deserves the rating near the bottom. We will fly other Business class Airlines to make a full judgment. Last time I fly with them on International routes.

That is a good point, I will let the other flyer know about reporting to the EWR Health related Agency in that region..I must say on a United Express Republic flight the Attendant was EXCELLENT..I told him he should be moved over to EWR to Europe routes.)

laxmillenial

I know the FA can't do much, but the severity of an event is usually magnified when someone sees it occurring in person vs hearing about it in an email. That is why I asked if in-flight personnel were notified.

May we ask what entree you got? Normal off the menu or was it a special meal?

Wayside

Don’t most foodborne illnesses take multiple (like 12+) hours to incubate and manifest themselves? I thought we had this discussion on FT a while ago.