How a Wisconsin pizzeria’s error led dozens to eat pizza made with cannabis oil

At least five people sought medical attention and dozens were reportedly affected last week after a Wisconsin pizza parlor accidentally used cannabis oil on some of its pies, officials said.

On Oct. 22, a man operating the shop, Famous Yeti’s Pizza in Stoughton, Wisconsin, about 20 miles southeast of Madison, ran out of oil while making pizzas. So he went to an industrial kitchen nearby shared by multiple businesses and took oil that belonged to a different business, Public Health Madison and Dane County said in a statement.

“There was a label on the cap that had manufacturer’s information, use by date, and noted it contained Delta-9 cannabis,” the health department said, referring to a scientific term used to describe THC. “The operator did not notice the label on the cap.”

The oil, which the health department said was a “legally purchased product,” was being used as “food-grade hemp” by another business, the owners of Famous Yeti’s, Caitlin and Cale Ryan, said in an email. They “began investigating what might have occurred” when one of its owners “started experiencing unexpected physical symptoms after eating the pizza,” the statement said.

The oil contained THC, which is the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana and has “intoxicating effects, meaning it can temporarily alter a person’s mood, thoughts, and perceptions,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

In Wisconsin, marijuana is not legal. But the oil that was used in the pizza “doesn’t face the same laws and regulations as marijuana because it comes from the hemp plant,” the health department said. “The oil can be used to make everything from cookies to condiments.”

On Thursday Stoughton emergency officials contacted the health department after they had “transported” five people with a “possible food-borne illness exposure,” the department said. The contaminated pizzas had been served from Oct. 22-24.

Famous Yeti’s served “60 contaminated pizzas,” one of the store’s owners told WMTV, a local television station. The restaurant closed Friday to “deep clean the restaurant,” a statement on its Facebook page said.

The total number of people who were hospitalized as a result of the contaminated pizza and the extent of the injuries were not immediately clear. The health department did not immediately respond to a question seeking that information. But the department said it had “received dozens of reports” from people feeling affected and alluded to multiple people having been sent to the hospital.

“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,” the department said. “Keep in mind each person’s reaction may be different, and the concentration of THC in the pizza can vary by piece.”

The comments on Famous Yeti’s social media posts were overwhelmingly positive. Many people expressed appreciation for the business’ openness about its mistake and expression of regret. A few customers also — possibly in jest — saw the news as even more reason to patronize the restaurant.

“When i come and I wink twice,” one commenter wrote, “I want that pizza alright lol.”