Dozens Fall Ill After Consuming THC-Infused Food at Wisconsin Pizza Restaurant

In October 2024, a pizza restaurant in Wisconsin accidentally served food containing THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis, leading to numerous cases of intoxication. The incident was reported by the CDC and identified the establishment as Famous Yeti's Pizza in Stoughton. The confusion arose when the restaurant ran out of its usual cooking oil; employees mistakenly used oil infused with THC, believing it was regular canola oil. This oil was then used in preparing various menu items such as pizza dough, garlic bread, cheese bread, and sandwiches, with the contaminated food being sold from October 22 to 24.

Emergency services responded after seven individuals, all consuming food from the pizzeria, were hospitalized exhibiting symptoms like dizziness, anxiety, extreme drowsiness, and in one case, a positive THC test, despite denying knowingly ingesting cannabis. An investigation revealed that 85 out of 107 respondents reported eating the contaminated food and experiencing symptoms within five hours of consumption.

Common symptoms of THC intoxication observed included dizziness, sleepiness, panic attacks, increased heart rate, nausea, hallucinations, and short-term memory impairment. The affected individuals ranged from 1 to 91 years of age; 33 sought medical care and 15 tested positive for THC.

The restaurant shared its kitchen with a licensed vendor producing edible THC products. Upon discovery, the owner immediately closed the establishment to facilitate cleaning and sanitization, adhering to Wisconsin Food Code standards before reopening on October 26.

Testing confirmed the presence of THC in the used oil, but no charges were filed as police determined the incident was unintentional. The owner admitted to using oil from a shared space and later recognized it might have been cannabis-infused. This case underscores the importance of strict handling protocols when dealing with shared food production spaces and the potential risks of accidental cannabis contamination in food service.

For more detailed information, refer to the CDC report on this incident.