I’m a flight attendant and these are the foods and drinks I would NEVER eat on a flight

Airplane food is notoriously questionable and many people have an opinion about their in-flight meals.

Avoiding in-flight meals can be accomplished during a quick layover, but on a long-haul flight you’ll probably have to embrace ready-to-eat food.

While some airlines offer worse food than others, few can be considered Michelin star quality.

Now, flight attendants have revealed the foods they would never eat and the drinks passengers should definitely avoid.

Food and drinks to avoid on planes according to flight attendants

• Alcohol
• Water (not bottled)
• Ice
• tea and coffee
• cheese boards
• Steak
• Soup
• Pasta

The first one to take into account is the most basic of all, since crew members warn against drinking water during the flight.

And, to the chagrin of beer-loving Brits, this also includes tea and coffee,

A flight attendant named Whytney, who works for a major US airline, said: “It all comes down to how often the pipes are cleaned.”

“Most flight attendants don’t drink tap water, coffee or tea.”

Whytney told the huffington postthe problem is not so much in the US, but in other countries that do not have similar regulations.

A 2019 study that ranked the top regional airlines in the US in terms of water quality found that Alaska Airlines and Allegiant Air offered the safest water, with JetBlue and Spirit Air ranking last.

Passengers can opt for bottled water to stay safe and avoid dehydration by skipping salty snacks.

Other crew members suggested avoiding steaks and fillets because of how they are prepared.

A Delta Air Lines flight attendant, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “If you’re particular about how your steak should be prepared, don’t eat it.”

While passengers probably wouldn’t expect a gourmet steak thousands of feet up, the clerk confirmed, “The ovens are very large and not a lot of food will fit.”

Which means the meat is often overcooked and hard to eat.

Starting your vacation early? Low blood oxygen levels could make you appear more drunk than you are in the air than on the ground.

Unfortunately, according to some flight attendants, you shouldn’t even have alcohol to drown your sorrows over bad plane food.

Whytney said that alcohol negatively affects your body during the flight due to the high altitude.

Dr Clare Morrison, a MedExpress medical professional, told HuffPost UK: “The barometric pressure in an airplane cabin is lower than normal.”

She is referring to a condition known as hypoxia, which is related to low oxygen levels in body tissue.

This happens on flights, he explains, as the drop in pressure means it’s harder for the body to absorb oxygen.

“The lower level of oxygen in the blood means that you can appear more drunk in the air than on the ground after consuming the same amount of alcohol.”

And, if you like a whiskey on the rocks, you should also remember that your ice is probably made from the same tap water that flight attendants would avoid.

Another food to avoid, King said, is cheese trays.

“Stay away from the cheese trays, as they are not too fresh,” he advised. “They’re made of cheese, sure, but they’re basically shelf-stable.”

Bad news for cheese lovers: Flight attendants say mid-flight cheese boards are made from processed products

Passengers should also skip the salty foods, according to Whytney, these include pastas and soups, meat sandwiches and some Indian meals.

Vanessa Rissetto, a registered dietitian, said: “Due to pressure changes, some people retain water during a flight.”

Therefore, something too processed and too high in sodium can lead to dehydration-related headaches, constipation, or fatigue.

Vanessa advised: “Try some electrolyte tablets or coconut water to help with hydration, and try whole foods like vegetables and fruits, or lean protein to help you feel your best.”

While all foods go through an extensive regulatory process before being served on a plane, it’s worth heeding the advice of regular crew members.