3 customers suffer chemical burns after drinking margaritas at Chili's in North Carolina

Key Points:

• A chemical exposure incident at a Chili's Grill & Bar in Forest City, North Carolina, caused multiple customers and employees to suffer chemical burns after drinks were mistakenly prepared with a cleaning chemical instead of sugar.
• The incident occurred when an employee used a granulated degreasing chemical, left in an unlabeled container in the bar area, to make margaritas, leading to immediate discomfort and burns for three customers and two staff members.
• The Foothills Health District launched an investigation, temporarily suspended the restaurant's food service permit, and required thorough sanitation before reinstating the permit after safety compliance was confirmed.
• Health officials emphasized the critical importance of properly labeling chemicals to prevent accidental ingestion and facilitate prompt treatment, advising anyone with symptoms to contact Poison Control for assistance.
• The restaurant chain had not commented at the time of the report, and the incident has raised customer concerns about safety at the location.