United Employees Fall Ill After Christmas Meals at Denver Airport

At least two dozen United Airlines employees fell ill after eating company-provided meals at Denver International Airport on Christmas Day.

Twenty-four employees reported symptoms "consistent with food poisoning" after United Airlines passed out nearly 500 holiday meals to workers last week, according to local officials with the Association of Flight Attendants union.

This illness has not impacted the company's operation, a United Airlines spokesperson said.

"United is monitoring reports from some employees about gastrointestinal symptoms following holiday meals served to Denver employees last Wednesday, and we are in contact with health authorities," the spokesperson said in a statement to The Independent.

The union previously reported that more than 200 employees fell ill before amending their count to just 24, local outlet Denver7 reports.

"While there is no way to know for sure if this was 'food poisoning' since there are viruses going around that produce similar symptoms, local [airport] management have assured me...they will be monitoring this issue," said Chris Bruton, the union's local executive council president for Denver International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Norovirus, an extremely contagious virus that causes similar symptoms to food poisoning, is surging in the US this holiday season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

The virus is the "leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and foodborne illness" in the country, according to the CDC.

A United Airlines employee who reported nausea and diarrhea after eating the meal told Denver7 he and other workers were concerned about calling out sick.

The employee, whose name was withheld by the outlet, said the airline has a strict holiday sick leave policy and requires a specific doctor's note, also known as a "Holiday Absence Certificate," within 48 hours of calling out. If they don't meet this requirement, the employee said, they could face repercussions like "performance warnings."

The union told employees that if they report symptoms consistent with food poisoning after eating the meals, they will not be required to fill out a "Holiday Absence Certificate" if they need to remain home from work.

It's one of the busiest times of year for travel companies.

The American Automobile Association predicts 119 million people will travel at least 50 miles away from home between December 21 and January 1. Meanwhile, the trade group Airlines for America said US airlines will carry around 54 million passengers from December 19 to Monday, Jan. 6, an increase from 2023.