According to a report released this week, at least 85 people developed symptoms after consuming food contaminated with THC at Famous Yeti’s Pizza in Dane County. THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, was believed to have entered the food when workers borrowed oil for a batch of dough from another business in the same building. The pizza shop’s owner stated that the THC-infused oil came from a state-licensed business using the shared community kitchen.

Initial Alert and Investigation

Last month, public health officials quickly issued an alert asking people who bought pizza at the restaurant in Stoughton from Oct. 22 to 25 to discard it after a few individuals reported unexplained symptoms. Health workers then began surveying those who ate pizza during that time frame. The final report revealed that those affected ranged in age from 1 to 91, including eight children. Several pregnant or breastfeeding women also experienced symptoms. Thirty-three people sought healthcare due to the symptoms, 27 went to the emergency room, and three were hospitalized for at least one night. Common symptoms included dizziness, anxiety, nausea, sleepiness, increased heart rate, paranoia, panic attacks, and vomiting, with symptoms lasting anywhere from 1 to 83 hours.

Contamination Beyond Pizza

Authorities initially thought only pizza was affected but later discovered that the contamination also extended to sandwiches, cheese bread, and garlic pizza. This broader scope of contamination raised concerns about the safety of the restaurant’s entire food offering. The restaurant at 2300 Highway 51 closed on Oct. 24 due to the contamination and was allowed to reopen two days later after consulting with health officials.

Owner’s Apology and Actions

At the time, Cale Ryan, the co-owner of Famous Yeti’s Pizza, expressed his apology on the business website and Facebook page. He assured customers that all affected products had been destroyed and that the restaurant was working closely with local authorities to enhance storage and security protocols to prevent such incidents from recurring and ensure the safety of their customers. This shows the restaurant’s commitment to addressing the issue and taking steps to protect public health.