Three customers at a Chili’s in Forest City, N.C., suffered chemical burns after a worker mistook a cleaning chemical for sugar at the bar, health officials say. Two employees were hurt, too.
A cleaning product ended up in customers’ drinks at a Chili’s in Forest City, North Carolina. Three of them got chemical burns in and around their mouths, health officials say.
The Foothills Health District says an employee mistook a granulated industrial degreaser for sugar and used it at the restaurant’s margarita station on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Two employees who tasted the mix were hurt, too.
The health district suspended the restaurant’s food service permit while staff deep-cleaned. It was reinstated the next day, Thursday, Oct. 29.
How did a degreaser end up in drinks at Chili’s?
According to the health district’s preliminary findings, as reported by WBTV and Fox News, it started two days earlier.
On Monday, Oct. 26, a contractor power washing the building handed a restaurant employee a granulated degreasing chemical. That employee put it in an unlabeled container, which later got brought inside and left in the bar area.
On Wednesday morning, another employee getting the bar ready for lunch found the container. Thinking it held sugar, or possibly salt, that worker used it to make the drinks at the margarita station.
A white granulated chemical in a plain container looks a lot like what’s normally kept behind a bar. Labels exist for exactly this reason.
Were the Chili’s customers hurt badly?
Officials haven’t said. The three customers ordered drinks after the restaurant opened. They “immediately experienced discomfort and chemical burns in and around their mouths,” according to Fox News’ account of the findings.
They told staff what was happening and left to get medical treatment, WBTV reported. Their conditions haven’t been released.
Two employees then tasted the mix and had similar symptoms. Their conditions haven’t been released either.
The degreaser hasn’t been named by brand, and no one has said how much of it went into each drink.
What did Chili’s say about the Forest City incident?
Chili’s gave Fox News a statement that called it “an isolated incident at our restaurant in Forest City, North Carolina.”
The company said it “resulted in injuries to two of our guests and Team Members.” It added, “Our team took immediate action to support those affected and avoid any further injuries,” and said, “We are actively investigating the circumstances related to this incident.”
The company’s count of two guests doesn’t match the health district’s count of three customers. Fox News pointed out the gap, and neither side has explained it yet.
Why was the Chili’s food permit suspended?
The Foothills Health District suspended the restaurant’s food service permit right after it opened its investigation. That shut down food service while staff deep-cleaned the food prep areas.
The permit came back Thursday, after inspectors found the restaurant met all other food safety standards, according to Fox News. The health district released its report the same day, WBTV said.
Health director Jason Masters said, “This incident highlights the importance of proper chemical labeling, storage, and handling in food service establishments.” Fox News reported he tied that to North Carolina’s food code “to prevent chemical contamination and protect public health.”
Masters also reminded restaurants across the state that chemicals have to be labeled and kept away from areas where food is handled.
Where is the Forest City Chili’s?
Forest City is a small town in Rutherford County, in western North Carolina, west of Charlotte. The Foothills Health District covers Rutherford and McDowell counties.
The restaurant is open again after the permit was reinstated. No police investigation has been reported, and no lawsuits had been reported as of Sunday, Nov. 1.
What should you do if you swallow a cleaning chemical?
Call Poison Control right away at 1-800-222-1222. It’s free, it’s open 24 hours a day, and the experts there can tell you whether you need the emergency room.
Don’t try to make yourself throw up unless a medical professional tells you to. Some chemicals do more damage coming back up. If someone is having trouble breathing, call 911.
And if anything you’re served tastes off, burns or stings, stop and tell the staff. The Forest City customers did exactly that and went to get checked out.
What happens next for the Forest City Chili’s?
The health district has filed its report, and Chili’s says its own investigation is ongoing. The company hasn’t said whether any employees face discipline or whether it’s changing how locations handle chemicals from outside contractors.
Chili’s is owned by Brinker International, based in Dallas. If the company or the health district shares more about the customers’ recovery, we’ll update this story.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
WBTV (Oct. 30, 2026), the health district’s timeline and report
Fox News (Oct. 29, 2026), Chili’s statement and Jason Masters’ quote
Complex, additional coverage
Dexerto on X (Nov. 1, 2026), the lead
AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.