What started as a seemingly harmless cookie sale at Goodnight Middle School in San Marcos turned into a campus health scare on Tuesday, after several students reported feeling sick shortly after eating the treats.
At least four students were seen and evaluated by the school nurse, and their parents were notified. The staff member who sold the cookies has been removed from district duties while authorities investigate, according to district officials.
In a letter to families, Goodnight Middle principal Joe Mitchell told parents that "The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority," as reported by CBS Austin. The district also reminded families that staff members are prohibited from selling or distributing personal food items to students and urged parents to seek medical attention if their child shows unusual symptoms.
Police probe and testing
The San Marcos Police Department is investigating the incident, and local coverage says officers now have the cookies in their possession for testing. FOX 7 Austin reports that the district has removed the staff member from duties and that any further personnel action will follow district policy. School officials say they are cooperating with investigators as samples are analyzed.
Campus context
Goodnight Middle serves roughly 890 students in the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District, so even a small cluster of illnesses draws quick attention from campus leaders, according to the Texas Tribune. The campus houses grades 6–8 and is one of the district's larger middle schools.
How investigators work
Public-health and law-enforcement investigations into suspected foodborne illness typically rely on interviews, epidemiologic analysis and laboratory testing to identify a source, the CDC says. Investigators generally try to interview affected students, test any available leftover food and compare lab results with patient samples before drawing conclusions.
Legal questions
Depending on what testing and interviews show, prosecutors could consider statutes such as Texas Penal Code Section 22.09, which covers tampering with a consumer product and can carry felony penalties in some circumstances. Whether that law applies would hinge on evidence about intent and whether the cookies were altered in a way that made serious injury likely.
What parents should do
District officials told families to seek medical care for any student who develops unusual symptoms and to report concerns to the school, CBS Austin reports. Parents were also reminded to keep ill students home and to notify campus staff if their child bought or ate the cookies so investigators can trace potential exposures.
The San Marcos Police Department and the district say the probe is ongoing and have not released test results. Authorities will update families as more information becomes available, FOX 7 Austin says.
