How a Degreaser Ended Up in Margaritas at a North Carolina Chili's

Three customers at a Chili's restaurant in Forest City, North Carolina, suffered chemical burns in and around their mouths after a granulated degreasing chemical was mistakenly used to make their margaritas, according to the Foothills Health District. The customers were treated at urgent care, and the restaurant's food service permit, suspended after the incident, has been reinstated.

Health officials say the episode traces back to a cleaning product handed over by an outside contractor and left unlabeled near the bar. Complex and The Daily Beast both reported on the findings.

How the mix-up unfolded

• Monday, Oct. 26: According to Complex, citing health officials, a contractor power-washing the outside of the restaurant gave an employee a granulated degreaser. The employee moved the substance into an unlabeled container, which was later carried inside and left near the bar.
• Wednesday, Oct. 28: Another employee preparing the bar for lunch service found the container and reportedly took the contents for sugar or salt. The Daily Beast, citing WRAL, said the employee believed it was sugar. Three customers ordered margaritas shortly after the restaurant opened and felt discomfort right away, Complex reported.
• Wednesday, after the incident: Health officials suspended the restaurant's food service permit and ordered staff to clean and sanitize the affected preparation areas, equipment and surfaces.
• Thursday morning: Investigators finished their review and reinstated the permit, finding that the location met “all applicable food safety requirements,” according to Complex.

What the customers and employees experienced

All three customers sought medical attention. Foothills Health District spokesperson Megan Rollins told News 13 she was not sure how severe the burns were, but said the customers went to urgent care and were treated there.

Complex also reported that two Chili's employees had similar symptoms after tasting the substance in the container.

What Chili's and health officials said

Chili's described the event as an isolated situation. In a statement, the company said its team acted immediately to support those affected and prevent more injuries. It also said it had investigated and addressed issues specific to that location, and that the health of guests and team members is a top priority.

The statement referred to injuries to two guests, while health officials counted three customers. Reports therefore differ on the number of guests affected, though the health district's figure is three.

Jason Masters, director of the Foothills Health District, said the incident shows why chemicals in food service settings must be properly labeled, stored and handled, as the North Carolina Food Code requires. The aim, he said, is to prevent chemical contamination and protect public health. The Daily Beast reported that Masters made the statement to USA Today.

Why it matters for diners and restaurant workers

The case shows how a single unlabeled container can move from a maintenance task into food and drink preparation. According to the health district, the North Carolina Food Code requires proper labeling, storage and handling of chemicals in restaurants, and officials pointed to those rules in explaining what went wrong.

For customers at this location, the permit suspension was brief. Inspectors restored it by Thursday morning after concluding the restaurant met food safety requirements. The restaurant was therefore cleared to serve food again within a day or so of the burns.

Local reaction was mixed. Levonne Baker, a regular customer, told News 13 he was shocked and compared the story to a horror film. He said the incident made him nervous about returning to the bar, asking “what's in there next?”

What remains unclear

Health officials have not said how severe the burns were. The sources do not identify the customers or the employees. Chili's has not explained the discrepancy between its count of two injured guests and the health district's count of three.

Around Prague, based on reporting by Complex, The Daily Beast