The Horse 2019/20

Technology & Environment

Task 5, Reflection, Airplane food

Sup Cowboy and Cowgirls

Here a short reflection of our project.

Our opinion about the subject of the project is that a lot of people already made experiences with airplane food. The opinions about the quality and the taste of the food on the plane are different. However, the Airlines try to offer the best products to the customer especially in First and Business Class. Unfortunately, the airlines do not share how much costs they have to produce a meal. More...

Mail Interview with GateGourmet

Hello dear Horseback riders

We were able to get in contact with a spokesperson from Gate Gourmet and ask our Questions. We'll post the original answers in german and add a short english translation.

Please feel free to take a look at them.

 

1) How can a salad stay fresh at an altitude of 10 kilometers?

  • Wie kann ein Salat auf 10 km Flughöhe frisch und knackig bleiben?

Salate oder allgemein alle Speisen im Trolley verlassen die Kühlkette (gekühlter Truck) nicht und werden in einer gekühlten Position im Galley (Flugzeug Küche/Trolley Park) versorgt, bevor sie serviert werden auf entsprechender Flughöhe.

Dazu werden Blattsalate vom Passagier selber angemacht (Dressing Portion auf dem Tray).

Salads or generally all food in the trolley do not leave the cold chain and are stored in a refrigerated position in the galley (aircraft kitchen), before they are served at the appropriate altitude.

For this purpose, the salad is prepared from the passenger himself  (dressing portion on the tray).


2) Do the ingredients lose any of their vitamins or minerals?

  • Gib des bei den Zutaten irgendwelche Vitamin oder Mineralstoff Verluste?

Vitamine und Minerale bleiben ohne Verlust erhalten, jedoch führt der Kabinendruck zu einer verminderten Speichelproduktion beim Passagier, wobei Salzgehalt in den Speisen und Tannin im Wein schwächer wahrgenommen werden. Moderne Flugzeuge können aber mittlerweile den Kabinendruck ausgleichen.

Vitamins and minerals are preserved without loss, however, the cabin pressure leads to a reduced production of saliva, so that the salt content in the food and tannin in the wine are perceived weaker. Although, modern aircrafts can compensate the cabin pressure which solves that problem.


3) Do the producers keep in mind the seasonality and the sustainability of the meals?

  • Achten Sie als Produzenten auf Saisonale und nachhaltige Mahlzeiten?

Unbedingt! Kostendruck und Lokalität, dazu Nachhaltigkeit lassen uns als Caterer nur diese Wahl!

Den Airlines werden saisonale Menus im 1-3 Monate Wechsel präsentiert (SWISS,EK,SQ) und Gategroup wird noch mehr auf Plastikreduktion und recycelbare Ressourcen zurückgreifen!

Wir verkaufen  bereits kompostierbares Geschirr aus Pflanzenfasern und setzen dies schon z.T. ein.

Der Ball liegt bei den Airlines, unsere «grünen» Produkte auch einzusetzen!

Absolutely! Cost pressure and locality, as well as sustainability let us as caterers only this choice!

Seasonal menus will be presented to airlines in 1-3 months, and Gategroup will use plastic reduction and recyclable resources even more!

We already sell compostable crockery made of vegetable fibers and are already putting this on.

The ball is up to the airlines to use our "green" products as well!


4) Approximately, how much energy is used to reheat the meals in the aircraft?

  • Wie viel Energie wird ungefähr für die Zubereitung einer Mahlzeit gebraucht?

Dazu habe ich leider keine Zahlen, aber die Strategie der Firma ist klar und wir legen sehr viel Wert darauf , unsere Natur zu schonen und Müllberge zu reduzieren!

Aus getrennten Küchenabfällen/Retouren vom Flugzeug wird Biogas produziert.

Unfortunately, I have no figures, but the strategy of the company is clear and we put a lot of effort on conserving our nature and reducing waste!

From separate kitchen waste / returns from the aircraft biogas is produced.

If you have any questions or recommendations do not hesistate to yell out "yeehaw".

Kind regards

Jeff & Loris

Some questions for GateGourmet

Dear Cowboys and Cowgirls

For our Project "Airplane food and it's production" we reached out to GateGourmet, the company which produces the majority of airplane food in Switzerland. In the attachement you'll find the mail we've sent them.

GateGourmet.docx (13,60 kb)

For the international cowboys and cowgirls which don't understand german we leave you the questions that we've asked GateGourmet below:

  • How can a salad stay fresh in 10’000 meters a.s.l.?
  • Does the food lose it’s healthy ingredients?
  • Do the producers look out for seasonal and resourceable meals?
  • How much energy do they need to reheat the meals in the aircraft?

There is some more work in progress sooo stay tuned!

Regards

Jeffrey & Loris