Contamination Incident at Fowler Middle School
Parents and guardians at Fowler Middle School in Tigard, Oregon, were alerted Monday after several students were accidentally served pretzels contaminated with oven cleaner during lunch.
According to a spokesperson for the Tualatin-Tigard School District (TTSD), the incident occurred during sixth-grade lunch when pretzels “were mistakenly contaminated with oven cleaner.” Officials said a total of 37 pretzels were distributed before the issue was discovered.
Immediate Response from School Officials
In an email shared with KOIN 6 News, Principal Cindy Pellici reassured families that the school acted quickly to identify and assist affected students.
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“We understand that today’s food incident created significant alarm within our school community,” Pellici wrote. “The safety and health of our students is our top priority. Protocols were followed immediately to identify those who ate the pretzels and to check for any illness or adverse reactions.”
The Oregon Poison Control Center was contacted right away to provide guidance on handling potential exposure.
Health Guidance and Symptoms
Poison control experts advised that Alto Shaam oven cleaner, if ingested, can cause a burning sensation, nausea, or vomiting when consumed in large quantities. They recommended that any student experiencing symptoms should:
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Rinse their mouth thoroughly with water
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Eat mild food, such as bread or a granola bar
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Monitor for symptoms for the next 24 hours
The school district confirmed that all families of students who ate any portion of the pretzels were personally contacted by school staff.
Parents were also urged to call poison control if symptoms persist and to seek medical care or dial 911 if students develop serious reactions such as difficulty breathing.
District’s Statement and Ongoing Investigation
TTSD officials emphasized that the situation was being handled with utmost seriousness and that an internal review was underway to determine how the contamination occurred.
“We are taking this situation seriously, and it is an unfortunate event,” Pellici added. “We will continue to ensure student safety. We appreciate your patience as we worked to respond to impacted students.”
No severe injuries or hospitalizations were immediately reported. School and district officials said they are reinforcing food safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
