Health officials have revealed that a Wisconsin restaurant accidentally laced its pizzas with drugs, leading to the intoxication of 85 customers.
Famous Yeti’s Pizza in Stoughton, Wisconsin, unintentionally served pizzas contaminated with THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, between October 22 and October 24, 2024.
In a new CDC report, EMS workers reportedly notified the public health department that they transported seven people to the hospital with THC intoxication-related symptoms, including dizziness, anxiety, paranoia and hallucinations over the course of the two days.
All of the patients reported eating at Famous Yeti’s, and one patient said they felt similar to when they took a THC edible.
He and the other patients, ranging from ages 1 to 91, later tested positive for the drug, the public health department reported.
An investigation determined that on October 22, the restaurant had run out of cooking oil and used oil from a shared cooperative kitchen located in the same building.
One of the vendors who used the kitchen made edible products using that cooking oil, which contained hemp-derived THC.
Hemp-derived THC can cause a range of side effects including intoxication, altered senses, impaired thinking and coordination, anxiety, and in some cases, more severe reactions like hallucinations or paranoia.
Famous Yeti’s Pizza in Stoughton unintentionally served contaminated pizzas with THC between October 22 and October 24 last year
In addition to the seven people taken to hospital, 78 others who dined at the restaurant revealed in a health questionnaire that they had at least one symptom of THC intoxication within five hours after dining there.
Some of the complaints claimed they suffered from dizziness, sleepiness, anxiety, increased heart rate, nausea, paranoia, panic attack, increased blood pressure, vomiting, and hallucinations.
All 85 people who were identified made full recoveries without any complications.
The only label warning that the borrowed cooking oil contained THC was on the cap, which the operator reportedly saw, according to the health department.
Famous Yeti’s later addressed the issue by posting a public notice on its Facebook page.
Its owner Cale Ryan wrote at the time: ‘In the past few days, we at Famous Yeti’s Pizza made a horrendous mistake and in doing so, compromised the trust we have spent 12 and a half years building with this amazing town.
‘We put people and families at risk and frightened and confused children and parents.
‘This is incredibly serious to us and we can’t imagine anything worse than betraying the faith that our customers have in us to provide a product made with [the] utmost care and without concern.
‘We acted with carelessness in prepping dough and ended up tainting our product that we take so much pride in.’
Ryan went on to say that as the owner he took ‘full responsibility for this oversight.’
All of the patients reported eating Famous Yeti’s, and one patient said they felt similar to when they took a THC edible
Owner Cale Ryan (pictured with his wife) issued an apology to his customers. A police investigation concluded that the provision of THC-contaminated food to customers was unintentional, and no criminal charges were pursued
He added: ‘I am incredibly sorry that I allowed us to act this irresponsibly and ended up hurting the people who have made Yeti’s the wonderful place it has been.
‘All I can ask from here is your forgiveness and your faith that he will do everything within our power to earn that trust and love back.
Still, he said: ‘If we lost your faith in us and we never get to serve you again, I completely understand.
‘We made a tremendous error and know that we will always be here with an open ear and an open heart, and we will work furiously to earn this privilege to provide for your sometime again.’
A police investigation concluded that the provision of THC-contaminated food to customers was unintentional, and no criminal charges were pursued.
The restaurant reopened on October 26 after cleaning and sanitizing following standards in the Wisconsin Food Code.
More than six months on, the restaurant is still in business and it remains a popular local eatery.
Following the incident, the CDC warns restaurants that clear labeling and locked storage for ingredients containing THC is essential in ensuring customer safety.
Source link
