Dozens of customers—including children and seniors—were unintentionally exposed to THC after eating pizzas made with THC‑infused oil used by mistake in a shared kitchen space.
Customers at Famous Yeti’s Pizza, Stoughton, unknowingly ate pizza, sandwiches, and garlic bread prepared using THC-infused oils borrowed from another vendor working in the commercial kitchen. As many as 85 patrons—from ages 1 to 91—reported symptoms of THC intoxication including dizziness, sleepiness, anxiety, nausea, increased heart rate and blood pressure, hallucinations, and time distortion. Seven patients were hospitalized, but all recovered.
Emergency personnel first raised this issue after several diners reported experiencing similar symptoms. A subsequent health department questionnaire confirmed that 85 respondents met the THC intoxication case definition—reporting at least one symptom within five hours of eating contaminated food.
The investigators were fully cooperative and the pizza parlor closed its doors voluntarily to clean and disinfect. The police concluded that the incident was an accident; criminal charges have not been filed. After decontamination, the restaurant reopened its doors on October 26, 2010.
Public health officials, including the CDC, have since advised restaurants sharing kitchen spaces with THC‑edible producers to implement secure storage and clear labeling of THC‑infused ingredients to prevent similar incidents.