Regional airline Horizon Air has been given a choice by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): install sinks in its fleet of Q400 turboprops or stop serving drinks with ice.
“To comply with 21 CFR 1250.38, toilet and lavatory facilities of suitable design and construction shall be provided for use of food-handling employees, and hand washing facilities must include soap, sanitary towels, and hot and cold running water, or warm water in lieu of hot and cold running water,” the FDA warning letter says.
FDA said that the airline has acknowledged the Q400 aircraft were built without hand washing sinks in the lavatories, and its flight attendants will soon begin using a hospital-grade disinfectant on their hands just before putting on gloves, which they will wear while pouring drinks, including those with ice.