A recent incident at a Chili's Grill & Bar in Forest City, North Carolina, resulted in multiple customers reporting chemical burns after consuming margaritas. The beverages had been inadvertently prepared with an industrial cleaning chemical, which was mistaken for either sugar or salt.
According to the Foothills Health District, three customers ingested the contaminated margaritas, and two restaurant employees also reported experiencing symptoms following exposure to the chemical substance.
Investigation Details and Cause
Preliminary findings from the health district indicate the mix-up originated on a Monday when an employee accepted an industrial degreaser from a contracted worker. This chemical was then placed into an unmarked container.
The unlabeled container was subsequently brought inside the restaurant and left in the bar area. Two days later, on Wednesday, an employee preparing the bar for lunch service discovered the container. Believing its contents to be a standard ingredient like sugar or salt, the employee proceeded to use the chemical to set up the margarita station.
Soon after the restaurant opened its doors, three patrons consumed the prepared beverages. They "immediately experienced discomfort and chemical burns in and around their mouths." Upon customers alerting the staff to their distress, two employees also tasted the substance and reported similar adverse reactions.
A statement from the company acknowledged an "isolated incident" at their Forest City establishment, which led to injuries for "two of our guests and Team Members." The company stated, "Our team took immediate action to support those affected and avoid any further injuries. We are actively investigating the circumstances related to this incident as the health and wellbeing of our guests and Team Members remain our top priority." This account varied slightly from the Foothills Health District's initial assessment, which identified three customers as having sustained chemical burns.
Regulatory Action and Public Health Warning
Following the incident, the Foothills Health District initiated an investigation, leading to the immediate suspension of the restaurant's food service permit. However, the permit was quickly reinstated on Thursday after specialists confirmed that the establishment met all other required food safety standards.
The health district utilized the incident as an opportunity to issue a reminder to all food service establishments across North Carolina regarding the critical importance of proper chemical labeling and storage, emphasizing that such substances must be kept distinctly separate from areas where food is handled.
"This incident highlights the importance of proper chemical labeling, storage, and handling in food service establishments, as required by the North Carolina Food Code, to prevent chemical contamination and protect public health," said Jason Masters, the health director of Foothills Health District, in a statement.
