Degreaser mistaken for sugar burns five at North Carolina restaurant
Three customers and two employees suffered chemical burns after an industrial degreaser was mistaken for sugar and used in margaritas at a Chili’s in Forest City, North Carolina. The incident prompted health officials to suspend the restaurant’s food service permit and investigate how the chemical was stored and handled.
Preliminary findings say a contractor provided the granulated cleaner on Monday, and it was left in an unlabelled container in the bar area. On Wednesday, an employee preparing for service used it at the margarita station; the three customers and two staff members who tasted the drinks sought medical treatment. Officials have not named the product or disclosed the severity of the injuries, and ordered the restaurant to clean and sanitise potentially contaminated areas and equipment.
In short
- Three customers and two employees suffered chemical burns.
- Degreaser was mistaken for sugar in margaritas.
- Health officials suspended the restaurant’s food service permit.
Explained simply
Chili’s is a US restaurant chain, and Forest City is a town in North Carolina. Margaritas are cocktails usually made with tequila, lime juice and a sweetener; a granulated cleaner can look similar to sugar, but industrial degreasers are chemicals used to remove grease from surfaces.
The restaurant’s food service permit is the local health authority’s approval to prepare and serve food and drinks. Health officials oversee food safety and can inspect businesses, require cleaning and investigate how substances were stored and handled.
The case raises questions about how chemicals are labelled and kept apart from ingredients in restaurant work areas. Clear storage and handling procedures help protect both customers and staff from accidental exposure.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Chili’s customers suffer horrific chemical burns after sipping margaritas at North Carolina restaurant”.