Update: THC-Contaminated Pizza from Famous Yeti’s Pizza in Stoughton, WI

Yesterday we reported about pizza from Famous Yeti’s Pizza in Stoughton, WI being unintentionally contaminated with THC. Please read our news release for the background. We have learned more information during our investigation and want to share the latest.

How did the contamination happen?

• Famous Yeti’s Pizza has its own kitchen but operates in a building that also has a shared industrial kitchen (S.T.A.C.K., Stoughton Area Cooperative Kitchen), where many businesses make food and other products. The two are separated by multiple doors and a hallway.
• On Tuesday (10/22), the operator was making pizza and ran out of oil. He went into the shared industrial kitchen and took oil off a shelf of another operator. The oil he took was in a clear plastic jug that looks like other cooking oils. There was a label on the cap that had manufacturer’s information, use by date, and noted it contained Delta-9 cannabis. The operator did not notice the label on the cap. There was no additional labeling on the body of the bottle.  

Why was THC present in the shared industrial kitchen?

There is no regulation requirements for products derived from the hemp plant. This is a legally purchased product and the vendor whose oil was on the shelf is licensed through the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. This product doesn't face the same laws and regulations as marijuana because it comes from the hemp plant. The oil can be used to make everything from cookies to condiments.  

Do operators who use a shared industrial kitchen share products and utensils?

They are not supposed to. Each business must hold its own license at the shared kitchen. Individual operators use their own supplies but may rent shelving or cabinet space to store their products. Our inspectors have a conversation with operators during inspections about making sure to secure their products in such a way that they’d know if their utensils or products were used by anyone else. Any ingredient can be toxic at certain levels, and all products should be clearly labeled.  

Why did it take a few days to learn about the THC contamination?

• Stoughton Fire and EMS contacted us on 10/24 about a possible foodborne illness exposure. They transported five people who reported eating at Famous Yeti’s Pizza. Because of the symptoms, they thought it could be possible carbon monoxide exposure and first checked the restaurant for carbon monoxide.  
• Our staff contacted the area hospital and talked to a patient, who said the feeling felt similar to eating a THC edible. The patient was tested for THC, which came back positive.  
• Not everyone who experienced symptoms called 911 and not everyone who was transported to the hospital was tested for THC.
• Our sanitarians inspected the restaurant with Stoughton Police on the afternoon of 10/24. A police officer tested a container that contained the oil and it was positive for THC.  

How many people were affected?

We have received dozens of reports but are still collecting information from people affected. If you ate the contaminated pizza, please help us with our investigation by filling out our questionnaire. As with all of our foodborne investigations, we will have a final report and will make that publicly available when we complete it.

What are THC-related symptoms?

• Possible THC-related symptoms include dizziness, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, hallucinations, short term memory impacts, time distortion, and sleepiness.
• Keep in mind each person’s reaction may be different, especially children.
• The concentration of THC in the pizza can vary by piece. We do not know the dosage in the pizza.  
• For more information on THC and poisoning, visit the CDC. 

What do I do if I ate contaminated pizza?

• Throw out any remaining pizza.
• Contact your health care provider or call 911 if your symptoms worsen. Wisconsin Poison Center is also a great resource: 1-800-222-1222. 
• Fill out our questionnaire to aid in our investigation.  

Why is Public Health investigating?

• Our responsibility is to protect health and safety of the people in our community. When we receive a report of a possible foodborne illness, our environmental health inspectors conduct an inspection at the establishment. Our epidemiology and communicable disease teams follow up with people who are sick to gather information. We produce a final report that outlines what happened, who was affected, and steps to prevent poisoning in the future.  
• We also have a responsibility to communicate about health threats. As you can imagine, it’s very disorienting and concerning to have THC-related symptoms when you do not know you’ve eaten product with THC. We don’t know the dosage in the pizza and so reactions for some could be quite strong or unpleasant.  
  • People of all ages eat pizza, including children and people with certain medical issues who could become very sick from THC poisoning.  
  • Additionally, THC can be dangerous when combined with certain medications, which could cause adverse interactions for some people. Some people are also allergic to THC.
  • There are also implications for people who complete drug testing who need to be aware they accidentally consumed THC.