Wisconsin Restaurant Accidentally Serves THC-Laced Food, Sickening 85 People
A Wisconsin restaurant accidentally used hemp-derived THC cooking oil, causing 85 people to experience THC intoxication symptoms including dizziness, sleepiness, anxiety, and altered perception over three days.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
After a restaurant ran out of cooking oil and used oil from a shared kitchen that contained hemp-derived delta-9-THC, 85 people met the case definition for THC intoxication. Affected individuals ate pizza, garlic bread, cheese bread, or grinder sandwiches and developed symptoms within 5 hours. Seven were transported to hospitals.
Key Numbers
85 cases; 7 hospital transports; symptoms occurred within 5 hours; affected products: pizza, garlic bread, cheese bread, grinders; 3-day exposure period (October 22-24, 2024).
How They Did This
Outbreak investigation by Public Health Madison & Dane County using online food/symptom questionnaire distributed via press release and social media. 107 valid responses analyzed; 85 met case definition requiring food exposure and at least one THC intoxication symptom within 5 hours.
Why This Research Matters
This MMWR report documents a mass unintentional THC exposure event that illustrates the regulatory gaps around hemp-derived THC products in food preparation settings. As these products become more common, the risk of accidental exposure increases.
The Bigger Picture
Hemp-derived THC products exist in a regulatory gray area in many states. Shared commercial kitchen spaces create cross-contamination risks. This incident highlights the need for clear labeling requirements and storage protocols for THC-containing ingredients in food service.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Case ascertainment relied on self-report via online questionnaire. Actual number of affected individuals likely higher than 85. No THC blood testing was performed on most affected individuals. The exact THC content of the contaminated oil was not reported.
Questions This Raises
- ?How many other shared commercial kitchens have similar cross-contamination risks?
- ?What labeling and storage regulations would prevent such incidents?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 85 people intoxicated from restaurant food over 3 days
- Evidence Grade:
- MMWR outbreak investigation with self-reported case ascertainment; well-documented exposure pathway.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication of October 2024 incident
- Original Title:
- Tetrahydrocannabinol Intoxication from Food at a Restaurant - Wisconsin, October 2024.
- Published In:
- MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 74(27), 439-442 (2025)
- Authors:
- Kita-Yarbro, Amanda, Moccero, Stefanie, Brobston, Katie, Goebel, Jacob, Banks, Janice Block, Vogt, Christy, Schumann, Casey, Grande, Katarina M, Olsen, Julia, Armstrong, Bonnie
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06839
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get high from restaurant food?
In this documented incident, a Wisconsin restaurant accidentally used hemp-derived THC cooking oil from a shared kitchen, causing 85 patrons to experience THC intoxication symptoms including dizziness, sleepiness, and anxiety. Seven were hospitalized.
Is hemp-derived THC in food regulated?
This incident highlights regulatory gaps. The THC was in cooking oil from a shared commercial kitchen where another vendor made THC edibles. The CDC report recommends clear labeling, locked storage, and regulations for THC-containing ingredients in food businesses.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06839APA
Kita-Yarbro, Amanda; Moccero, Stefanie; Brobston, Katie; Goebel, Jacob; Banks, Janice Block; Vogt, Christy; Schumann, Casey; Grande, Katarina M; Olsen, Julia; Armstrong, Bonnie. (2025). Tetrahydrocannabinol Intoxication from Food at a Restaurant - Wisconsin, October 2024.. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 74(27), 439-442. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7427a2
MLA
Kita-Yarbro, Amanda, et al. "Tetrahydrocannabinol Intoxication from Food at a Restaurant - Wisconsin, October 2024.." MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 2025. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7427a2
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Tetrahydrocannabinol Intoxication from Food at a Restaurant ..." RTHC-06839. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kita-yarbro-2025-tetrahydrocannabinol-intoxication-from-food
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.