Four students fall ill after eating cookies sold by staff member at Texas middle school

Four students at a San Marcos, Texas, middle school reported feeling sick after purchasing homemade cookies from a staff member on campus, prompting a police investigation and the employee’s removal from the district.

Several students at Owen Goodnight Middle School reported feeling “unwell” after eating cookies purchased from a staff member, according to a message sent to families Tuesday by Principal Joe Mitchell. Four students who confirmed purchasing and eating the cookies were evaluated in the school nurse’s office after reporting symptoms, KXAN reported.

Mr. Mitchell reported the matter to campus administration and the San Marcos Police Department. “We are cooperating fully with all necessary reviews to ensure a thorough investigation,” he wrote.

According to the San Marcos Record, district spokesperson Andrew Fernandez said the cookies had been turned over to the San Marcos Police Department and would be sent to the Texas Department of Public Safety for testing.

“We turned it over to SMPD. SMPD is going to turn it over to DPS to test the cookies,” Mr. Fernandez said. “If they do come back positive, our safety director escorted the individual off campus to a nearby facility for drug testing, so we’re awaiting results for that.”

One parent separately alleged to the San Marcos Record that the cookies may have been sold on campus since November 2025, though that claim has not been confirmed by district officials and testing remains pending.

The four students who visited the nurse’s office were evaluated and their parents were notified, CBS Austin reported. No official characterization of their condition was immediately available.

Lisa McClellan, whose grandson attends the school, said he told her he ate a cookie and didn’t feel right.

“He goes, I don’t know, I just didn’t feel good,” Ms. McClellan told FOX 7 Austin. Another parent offered a different account, saying her son experienced no symptoms and that the treats appeared to be ordinary baked goods.

In his letter, Mr. Mitchell told families the district was reinforcing its policy barring staff from selling or distributing personal food items to students. The staff member involved has been removed from the district, and any further personnel decisions will follow district policy and the outcome of the investigation.

“The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority,” Mr. Mitchell wrote. “We are taking this matter very seriously.”