A mother in Mobile, Alabama, is seeking answers after her son and six other students at BC Rain High School fell ill on Monday, allegedly after eating brownies made by a teacher who reportedly substituted mayonnaise for cooking oil. Erica Buford, whose freshman son was among those affected, described symptoms including a locked leg requiring hospital treatment, as well as heaviness, tiredness and chest pain in her own child, and criticised the school for not offering timely help. The incident has drawn scrutiny to a common but under-examined classroom practice of teachers rewarding pupils with homemade treats.

A school system source told WKRG the teacher, who has not been named or disciplined, used mayonnaise instead of oil in the brownies. Buford dismissed suggestions that vaping or drug use caused the symptoms, insisting no substances were involved, and kept her son home the following day after the teacher remained in the classroom. Mobile County School Board member Sherry McDade said the cause remains under investigation but defended the school's handling of the situation and noted that teachers bringing homemade treats is a longstanding tradition. Mayonnaise, while unusual-sounding, is not unheard of in baking, as it typically contains oil and eggs and is sometimes used as an egg substitute in recipes.