A Chili’s Grill & Bar in Forest City, North Carolina, has reopened after margaritas mistakenly prepared with a cleaning chemical caused burns around the mouths of customers and employees last week. The Foothills Health District said three customers and two workers were injured at the restaurant, which is about 60 miles west of Charlotte.
The customers ordered their drinks shortly after lunch service began and felt discomfort and chemical burns in and around their mouths immediately after sipping them, according to the health district. Two employees then tasted the substance and experienced similar symptoms. The restaurant was closed on Thursday and allowed to resume business the following day after local health inspectors investigated.
Health officials traced the chemical’s arrival at the restaurant to the morning of Oct. 26. According to their statement, an employee accepted a granulated degreasing product from a contracted worker who was power washing the building’s exterior. The employee put the product in a container that had no label identifying what was inside.
That container was subsequently taken into the restaurant and left at the bar, although the reason it was brought indoors remained unclear. The health district said the chemical was inadvertently added to margaritas two days later. Investigators found that an employee setting up the bar for lunch had encountered the container, assumed it held sugar and used its contents to prepare the margarita station.
Chili’s menu lists several margaritas served with a citrus-sugar rimmer, alongside offerings with the traditional salt. The health district’s account identified the mistaken belief that the unlabeled chemical was sugar as the explanation for its use during preparations for lunch service.
Megan Rollins, a spokesperson for the Foothills Health District, told NBC News by email that those injured had received medical treatment. She did not have information about their conditions. Rollins also said the investigation had concluded and that no fines were issued.
A Chili’s spokesperson described the event as confined to the Forest City restaurant and said the company acted immediately to assist those affected and prevent further injuries. The spokesperson added that Chili’s had thoroughly examined what happened and addressed the problems specific to that location.
The company’s account referred to injuries involving two guests and team members, differing from the health district’s report of three injured customers and two employees. NBC News asked Chili’s to explain the discrepancy in the customer count, but the spokesperson did not respond to that follow-up question.
