STOUGHTON, Wis. — STOUGHTON, Wis. — Pizza inadvertently laced with THC has apparently made dozens of people sick in Wisconsin.
Health officials in Dane County say Famous Yeti’s Pizza in Stoughton, about 20 miles southeast of Madison, served pizza contaminated with THC, the principal psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
Health officials said they have received dozens of reports of people who recently got sick from the pizza and are still taking reports. They said a full tally will be available in a final report.
The officials said a restaurant cook ran out of oil, went into a shared commercial kitchen in the same building and mistakenly took a jug of oil off a shelf that contained Delta-9, a form of THC.
Marijuana is illegal in Wisconsin, but products such as THC derived from the hemp plant are legal. Health officials said the oil in question can be used to make everything from cookies to condiments.
THC-related symptoms can include dizziness, increased blood pressure, vomiting, anxiety, paranoia and hallucinations.
Famous Yeti's Pizza co-owner Cale Ryan told the Wisconsin State Journal that the cook simply grabbed the wrong oil. One batch of dough, which can make 60 pizzas, was contaminated, he said. He's heard from about 20 customers who were affected, he said.
“They get really stoned,” he said. “They get intoxicated from the THC, so I think it's more alarming than anything to feel that way. It's basically eating an edible, but without knowing.”
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.
- For more information on THC and poisoning, visit the CDC.
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.
Source: Dane County Health Dept.