Chili's margaritas made with cleaning chemical
The gist
A Chili's employee in North Carolina mistook an unlabeled degreaser for sugar, burning three customers and two workers.
The health department suspended then reinstated the restaurant's permit; the chain is investigating.
How it unfolded
- Oct 26, 2026A restaurant employee received a granulated degreasing chemical from a contracted worker power-washing the exterior and placed it in an unlabeled container, which was left in the bar area.
- Oct 28, 2026Shortly after the Forest City Chili's opened for lunch, an employee preparing the bar found the container, believed it was sugar and used it to prepare the margarita station.
- Oct 28, 2026Three customers who ordered margaritas immediately felt discomfort and chemical burns in and around their mouths; they alerted staff and left for medical care. Two employees then tasted the substance and reported similar symptoms.