Five individuals, including three customers and two employees, sustained chemical burns at a Chili's restaurant in North Carolina when a staff member erroneously used a cleaning powder in place of sugar for drink preparation, according to health officials. The incident occurred on November 2, 2026.
The mix-up led to the preparation of drinks that caused injuries to those who consumed them or were in close proximity during their creation. Health officials confirmed the nature of the injuries as chemical burns resulting from the substance mistakenly added to the beverages.