Chemical Burns Reported After Cleaning Product Mistakenly Used in Margaritas at North Carolina Chili's
An employee mistook a granulated degreaser for sugar, leading to injuries for three customers and two employees.
Three customers and two employees at a Chili's in Forest City, North Carolina, suffered chemical burns after a cleaning product was inadvertently mixed into margaritas. The incident occurred on Wednesday when a restaurant employee preparing the bar for service mistakenly used a granulated degreaser, believing it to be sugar.
The cleaning chemical had been brought to the restaurant two days prior by a worker who had received it from a contractor power-washing the building’s exterior. It was stored in an unlabeled container in the bar area. Another employee found the container and used its contents in the preparation of margaritas.
Customers who consumed the drinks immediately reported discomfort and chemical burns around their mouths. They alerted restaurant staff before seeking medical attention. Two employees who tasted the substance from the container also developed similar symptoms.
"I’m not sure what degree of chemical burns they had, but they went to urgent care and were treated there," said Megan Rollins, a spokesperson for the Foothills Health District, according to ABC News13.
The Foothills Health District initiated an investigation and temporarily suspended the restaurant's food service permit. The permit was reinstated the following morning after environmental health specialists confirmed that the restaurant met food safety requirements. The district emphasized the importance of proper chemical labeling, storage, and handling in food service establishments to prevent contamination and protect public health.