Why Do Pilots And Co-Pilots Eat Different Meals

By: Nikita Nikhil

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Have you ever wondered why pilots and co-pilots avoid eating the same food? It's not just airline rules but there's a safety reason behind it. Here's what:

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1. Avoid Food Poisoning

If one meal is contaminated, both pilots getting sick could cause trouble. Different meals lower the risk of simultaneous food poisoning.

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2. Double Safety Check

This ensures both meals are safe to consume. If one meal has a problem, the other pilot remains unaffected and can continue flying the plane.

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In 1982, a flight from Boston to Lisbon was affected when tainted tapioca pudding made 8 out of 10 crew members ill with food poisoning.

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3. What Sparked This Tradition?

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Luckily, the co-pilot did not eat the pudding and stayed healthy. While the rules vary between airlines, it is common for pilots to be served different meals.

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4. Does This Apply To Short Flights?

Yes! Whether it's a 45-minute flight or 12 hours, both are given different meals. There might also be no meal on a short flight.

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6. What Can Pilots Eat?

Pilots can eat whatever they like before or during a flight. Airlines usually prepare and adjust food as per the pilot's dietary needs.

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For more on why flight mode is important while flying, click here.

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