A trip to the restaurant turned scary for three customers at a Chili’s Grill & Bar outlet in Forest City, North Carolina (USA). The customers reportedly got chemical burns around their mouths when they drank margaritas made with industrial cleaning chemical that was mistaken for food ingredient.
The incident happened on October 28, 2026 and led health authorities in the local area to investigate food safety procedures at the restaurant. Two employees also had similar symptoms after tasting the substance.
How Did the Chemical Mix-Up Happen?
The Foothills Health District says that the incident began on October 26 when a restaurant employee received granulated degreasing chemical from a contracted worker who was power washing the building’s exterior.
The chemical was put into an unlabeled container and brought to the restaurant. It was left in the bar area.
Two days later an employee preparing the bar for lunch service found the container and mistakenly thought it contained sugar. The substance was used at the margarita preparation station.
The mistake was only discovered when customers complained.
Three Customers Suffer Chemical Burns
Three customers came into the restaurant after it opened and ordered margaritas. They drank the contaminated drinks and immediately complained of discomfort and chemical burns in and around their mouths, health officials said.
The customers alerted restaurant staff and left to get medical attention.
Two other employees tasted the substance in the container and had similar symptoms. They were also given medical attention.
The severity of the injuries and the customers’ subsequent medical conditions have not been publicly reported in any of the available reports.
Health Department Suspends Restaurant Permit
Foothills Health District then investigated the incident and immediately suspended the restaurant’s food service permit.
Officials told the restaurant to wash, rinse and sanitise the affected food preparation areas, equipment and surfaces so as not to expose others again.
Environmental health specialists finished their investigation on October 29. The restaurant’s food service permit was reinstated after officials determined that the corrective measures had been taken and applicable food safety requirements were met.
Chili's Responds to the Incident
Chili’s “acknowledged the incident at its Forest City restaurant and said it immediately took action to help those affected and prevent further injuries”.
The company said it was an isolated incident and that they were “investigating the circumstances” of contamination.
Foothills Health District also stressed the need to properly label, store and handle cleaning chemicals in food service establishments.
Why Proper Chemical Storage Matters
The incident has prompted questions about food safety and the dangers of storing industrial cleaning products near food preparation areas.
Cleaning chemicals must be kept in labelled containers and separated from food and beverages. Unlabelled substances can cause serious problems when employees mistake them for ordinary ingredients.
Forest City reminds us that small mistakes in chemical handling can have serious consequences for customers and restaurant workers.
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