Chemical mix-up at Chili's leaves customers with burns

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 08:50 · Archive

Three customers and two employees were injured after an industrial degreaser was mistakenly used to prepare margaritas at a Chili's Grill & Bar in Forest City, North Carolina on Wednesday. An employee preparing the bar for lunch service discovered an unlabeled container and, believing it contained sugar, used the chemical to prepare the margarita station. The substance had been brought to the restaurant two days earlier by a worker who received it from a contractor power-washing the building's exterior and was left in an unmarked container in the bar area.

After the restaurant opened, three customers consumed the contaminated beverages and immediately experienced chemical burns in and around their mouths. They alerted staff and left to seek medical attention at urgent care. Two employees then tasted the substance in the container and developed similar symptoms.

Chili's said in a statement that it had taken immediate action to support those affected and was investigating the incident. A Foothills Health District spokesperson confirmed that those injured had received treatment at urgent care. The incident has left at least one regular customer hesitant about returning to the restaurant's bar.

How it is being reported

• North Carolina Chili’s customers suffer chemical burns after drinking margaritas in nightmare mix-upAn employee preparing the bar for lunch service mistook a granulated degreaser for sugar.New York Post · 30 Oct, 08:40
• Chili's customers suffer chemical burns after dangerous margarita mix-upThree customers and two employees suffered symptoms after an industrial degreaser was mistakenly used to prepare margaritas at a North Carolina Chili's.Fox News · 30 Oct, 02:15

In this story: Chili's Grill & Bar · Forest City · North Carolina · Foothills Health District · Levonne Baker

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log