Chili’s Margarita Mix-up Causes Burns for Customers

WHO:

Inc - Three customers and two employees were affected by the margarita mix-up.

Newser - The affected customers were at Chili’s’ Forest City location in North Carolina; two employees also tasted the drinks and developed similar symptoms.

Newser - Megan Rollins of the Foothills Health District described the restaurant’s margarita station.

WHAT:

Inc - Three customers and two employees suffered chemical burns to their mouths after a cleaning product was mistaken for sugar in margaritas; all five went to urgent care.

Newser - Health officials said three customers suffered chemical burns in and around their mouths after sipping margaritas made with a granular cleaning product.

Newser - The two employees who tasted the drinks suffered similar symptoms, and all five affected people sought care at urgent care centers.

Newser - The health district briefly withdrew the restaurant’s food service permit and reinstated it after cleaning and inspection.

Newser - Information about the severity of the injuries was not available.

WHERE:

Inc - The incident occurred at a Chili’s in North Carolina.

Newser - The restaurant was the Chili’s Forest City location in North Carolina.

Newser - The margarita station had a tray for water and lime juice, with a separate area for salt or sugar, according to Megan Rollins.

WHY:

Inc - An unlabeled container of white granulated degreaser was mistaken for sugar.

Newser - A power-washing contractor had left the degreaser in an unlabeled container, which was later used at the margarita station.

HOW:

Inc - The degreaser was used in margaritas requested with sugar rims, causing burns after customers and employees drank or tasted them.

Newser - The granular cleaning product was mistaken for sugar and used to make the drinks; employees then tasted the margaritas.

(UPDATED November 2, 2026 07:03 UTC)

Three customers and two employees suffered mouth chemical burns after drinking or tasting contaminated margaritas. An unlabeled container of granular degreaser was mistaken for sugar at a North Carolina Chili’s. All five sought urgent care, and health officials reinstated the restaurant’s permit after cleaning and inspection.