They were served margaritas made with degreaser: three customers at a North Carolina Chili's suffered mouth burns
A granular cleaning product was left in an unlabeled container near the bar and mistaken for sugar. Three customers suffered chemical burns, and two employees who tasted it also had symptoms. What to do if someone swallows a cleaning product.
Photo: Salud3 / Imagen ilustrativa generada con IA · Imagen ilustrativa
Illustrative image: A margarita glass on a bar. Not the restaurant in this case.
Three customers at a Chili's restaurant in Forest City, North Carolina, suffered chemical burns in and around the mouth after drinking margaritas mistakenly made with a degreaser, according to the Foothills Health District, The Charlotte Observer, WRAL and The Independent. The incident happened on October 28.
What happened before that first sip explains everything.
An unlabeled container by the bar
According to health officials, a pressure-washing contractor left a granular degreaser at the restaurant in an unlabeled container. The product ended up at the station where margaritas are made and was mistaken for sugar. In addition to the three customers, two employees who tasted the mix also had symptoms.
The Foothills Health District suspended the restaurant's permit and reinstated it on October 29 after verifying corrective measures. "This incident highlights the importance of proper labeling, storage and handling of chemicals in food establishments, as required by the North Carolina Food Code," health director Jason Masters said, according to the outlets cited. The chain called it "an isolated incident."
No public update has been given on the condition of those affected beyond the burns described.
Why a cleaner can burn the mouth
Many industrial degreasers are alkaline or corrosive. MedlinePlus, the medical encyclopedia of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, explains that swallowing strong cleaning products can cause burns to the mouth, throat and esophagus, painful swallowing, drooling, vomiting and, in severe cases, trouble breathing. The damage can keep progressing hours after contact, so it is not wise to wait and "see if it passes."
The case also highlights a very common mistake at home: storing cleaning products in food or drink containers, such as soda bottles or sugar jars. U.S. poison centers receive thousands of calls every year about exposures to household products.
What to do if someone swallows a cleaning product
- Do not induce vomiting: the product can burn again on the way up, MedlinePlus warns.
- Remove the product from the mouth and rinse with water, if the person is conscious and can swallow.
- Call right away a poison center or emergency services. In the U.S., Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222; in other countries, use the local emergency number.
- Keep the container or a photo of the label so medical staff know what substance it was.
- Go to the emergency room if there is trouble breathing, severe pain when swallowing, drooling or a hoarse voice.
At home, prevention is simple: keep products in their original, labeled containers, away from food and out of children's reach. If you have doubts about an exposure, talk to your doctor or a poison center even if there are no symptoms.
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Sources
For information only. It does not replace advice from a health professional. Medical disclaimer