UPDATE: A shocking food safety incident has unfolded at Fowler Middle School in Tigard, Oregon, where students were served pretzels contaminated with oven cleaner earlier this week. School officials confirmed the alarming situation in a communication to families, stating the oven cleaner, in granular form, was “mistakenly applied” to the pretzels during lunch.
Officials expressed their deep concern in an email sent to parents, acknowledging the distress caused by the incident. “Understandably, we’ve heard a lot of concern around Monday’s food-contamination accident,” the email stated. “We are sorry this happened.”
Following the discovery, Oregon Poison Control was contacted, and school staff promptly identified and monitored students who may have consumed the tainted pretzels for any symptoms. However, the exact circumstances leading to this contamination remain under investigation.
The school’s correspondence emphasized that a formal inquiry is underway. “While we are limited in what we can share while that process is ongoing, please know that it is being handled with the seriousness and care it deserves,” the message noted. “We are reviewing all safety protocols to ensure that an incident like this does not happen again.”
Parents are understandably concerned and demanding answers. Kianna Bell, a parent of one affected student, received a voicemail notifying her that her child had consumed part of a contaminated pretzel. “Because they haven’t given us any contextual information, it’s pretty much just like we follow protocol, we call poison control. We’re managing symptoms,” Bell expressed. “But I want accountability. I want preventative measures. I want an investigation. I want an explanation.”
The situation has sparked widespread anxiety among parents and the community, who are calling for transparency and accountability from school officials. With an ongoing investigation, more details are anticipated, but parents are eager for immediate answers regarding their children’s safety.
As this story develops, the focus remains on ensuring student well-being and restoring trust within the school community. The Tigard school district has pledged to take this incident seriously and to implement necessary changes to prevent future occurrences.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as we continue to monitor the situation. Parents and community members are encouraged to share their thoughts and concerns as the inquiry progresses.
