Chili’s Customers Suffer Chemical Burns After Degreaser Mistaken for Sugar
Three customers and two employees suffered chemical burns at a North Carolina Chili's after staff used industrial degreaser in margarita mix.
POLICY WIRE — Forest City, North Carolina — Three patrons experienced painful chemical burns after consuming margaritas that were mistakenly prepared using an industrial cleaning agent instead of sugar.
Officials from the Foothills Health District reported that the incident occurred at the Chili’s Grill & Bar location situated approximately 60 miles west of Charlotte.
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The chain of events began on October 26, when a contractor hired to power-wash the building’s exterior handed over a granulated degreasing chemical to a staff member.
The hazardous substance was placed into an unlabeled container and moved inside the restaurant, where it was left near the bar area.
Two days later, an employee confused the degreaser for sugar and incorporated it into a batch of margarita mix.
As soon as the establishment opened for business, three customers who ordered the drinks immediately felt irritation and suffered chemical burns in and around their mouths.
The affected customers alerted the staff and departed to seek medical treatment. Following this, two restaurant employees also tasted the mixture and reported similar physical symptoms.
In response, health officials launched an investigation and temporarily suspended the restaurant’s food service permit. They ordered the staff to perform a thorough cleaning of all involved areas.
By October 29, the investigation was completed, and the restaurant was allowed to have its permit reinstated.
Jason Masters, the director of health for the Foothills Health District, noted that the event underscores the vital necessity of proper chemical labeling and storage as mandated by the North Carolina Food Code to prevent contamination and ensure public safety.
A representative for Brinker International, the parent company of Chili’s, confirmed that two guests and two team members were injured in the isolated incident.
The spokesperson stated that the company took immediate steps to assist those harmed and prevent further injuries while addressing the specific issues at the Forest City location.
The company emphasized that the health of its customers and employees is their primary concern, noting that Chili’s operates more than 1,200 locations across the United States.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
