Wisconsin Pizza Shop Apologizes After Accidentally Selling THC-Infused Pizzas
Stoughton, Wisconsin — Patrons of Famous Yeti’s Pizza were stunned this week when the local pizza shop issued an apology for inadvertently selling pizzas that contained THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. Reports of unusual sensations and unexpected reactions from customers led the shop’s owners to discover the cause: dough that had been unknowingly contaminated with THC-infused oil.
Accidental THC Contamination Traced to Shared Kitchen Oil
According to Famous Yeti’s Pizza, the THC entered the food chain through oil that had been stored in a shared kitchen space used by multiple vendors. The dough made from this oil was included in roughly 70 pizza orders, all of which were unknowingly served to unsuspecting customers. The co-owner of the shop, Cale Ryan, expressed deep regret over the incident in a statement on Facebook, acknowledging the gravity of the error.
“We can’t imagine anything worse than betraying the faith that our customers have in us to provide a product made with utmost care and concern,” Ryan wrote. In an attempt to reassure and address their patrons directly, he added, “If we lost your faith in us and we never get to serve you again, I completely understand.” Ryan explained that although he was aware of another vendor in the cooperative kitchen producing THC-infused brownies, he did not immediately suspect THC when customers first reported symptoms.
Initial Investigation Focuses on Possible Food Contamination or Carbon Monoxide
When patrons began to report unusual feelings after eating, the shop initially explored possible food contamination. Ryan suspected at first that a vegetable topping, like spinach, could have gone bad, causing adverse reactions. In response, Famous Yeti’s even contacted local authorities, prompting the Stoughton Fire Department to conduct a carbon monoxide check at the restaurant to rule out a gas leak, given that CO exposure can cause symptoms similar to what customers described.
It wasn’t until later that the THC-laced oil was discovered as the root of the issue. Recreational cannabis use remains illegal in Wisconsin, making this accidental exposure all the more alarming for both customers and the shop’s owners.
Why THC in Pizza May Have Stronger Psychoactive Effects
Experts explain that ingesting THC through foods like pizza can lead to more intense psychoactive effects than smoking or vaping cannabis. According to Darin Erickson, associate director of research at the University of Minnesota’s Cannabis Research Center, THC needs to be “activated” through heat, making it more potent when incorporated into edibles rather than consumed raw. For this reason, cannabis-infused edibles, especially those high in fat like pizza, allow the body to absorb more THC than other methods.
When cannabis is smoked or vaped, the effects are typically felt within minutes, whereas consuming THC-laden food leads to delayed, often stronger effects as the compound is digested and metabolized in the gut. This delay can take up to an hour, but the presence of fats, like those in cheese and oil, enhances absorption, making the effects even more pronounced. Preclinical studies in animals suggest that fats significantly increase the body’s ability to absorb cannabinoids, intensifying the experience.
The Unique Relationship Between Food, THC, and Alcohol
Tory Spindle, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, further highlighted that the interaction between THC and food is quite different from how food interacts with alcohol. Unlike alcohol, which is absorbed more slowly when consumed with food, fats in food actually increase the absorption of THC. This difference means that edibles, particularly high-fat ones like pizza, may have heightened and prolonged effects compared to lower-fat edible products.
Spindle explained, “This increased absorption means that a person would feel stronger effects than if the THC was suspended in something that was not fatty.” This phenomenon is one reason why edible THC can result in a longer-lasting and often more intense psychoactive experience than other forms of cannabis.
Lessons and Precautions for Commercial Kitchens
The accidental THC contamination at Famous Yeti’s Pizza highlights the need for clear protocols and storage practices when multiple vendors share a kitchen space, especially when some may work with cannabis products. While the pizza shop’s owners have apologized and assured patrons they are reviewing procedures, this incident serves as a reminder to businesses of the importance of keeping cannabis-infused products securely stored and properly labeled.
For consumers, the incident is also a lesson in understanding the unique ways different foods interact with THC. Edibles can vary significantly in their psychoactive effects, influenced not only by dosage but by the type of food in which the THC is infused.
As Famous Yeti’s Pizza seeks to rebuild trust with its customers, the incident underscores the need for caution and clear separation of cannabis products in shared spaces. It also highlights the importance of understanding how THC in edibles differs from other methods of consumption, with foods like pizza intensifying the compound’s effects. Moving forward, the pizza shop hopes to implement practices that prevent similar issues, reassuring patrons that their products will be free from unintentional additives.
