Forest City Chili's closes briefly after degreaser mistaken for sugar causes chemical burns

Key points

• On Oct. 28, three customers reported immediate chemical burns in and around their mouths after drinking margaritas at a Chili's in Forest City, North Carolina.
• Two restaurant employees also tasted the substance and experienced similar symptoms, according to the Foothills Health District.
• Investigations revealed that a contractor power-washing the building on Oct. 26 gave a granulated degreasing chemical to an employee in an unlabeled container.
• The container was left in the bar area and was mistakenly identified as sugar by another employee preparing the margarita station two days later.
• The Foothills Health District suspended the food service permit immediately but reinstated it on Oct. 29 after the restaurant met all safety requirements.
• Chili's acknowledged the 'isolated incident' and stated it was actively investigating the circumstances to ensure guest safety.

Background

This incident follows a pattern of food safety concerns involving mislabeled substances, as noted in recent archive coverage of similar chemical mix-ups in the food service industry. The Foothills Health District emphasized that proper labeling and storage are critical to preventing such contamination, aligning with broader North Carolina Food Code requirements.

How outlets are covering it

While all sources agree on the core facts of the chemical mix-up and the subsequent permit suspension, they differ in emphasis. USA TODAY and WBTV focus on the official health district findings and the chain's corporate response. WRAL highlights the temporary closure and the specific timeline of the contractor's involvement. WLOS adds a human element by quoting a local customer who described the event as 'horror movie' material and expressed hesitation about returning to the bar, while also noting that the specific chemical name and the severity of the burns were not disclosed by officials.

Why it matters

The incident underscores the critical importance of strict chemical labeling and storage protocols in food service establishments. It highlights the potential for severe health consequences when industrial cleaning agents are confused with food ingredients, prompting immediate regulatory action and raising public awareness about the risks of unlabeled containers in commercial kitchens.

What to watch

The restaurant has resumed operations after passing a safety inspection. No further legal or regulatory actions have been announced, but the incident serves as a reminder for other food service providers to audit their chemical storage and labeling practices to prevent similar accidents.