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Chili's customers suffer chemical burns after margarita mix-up

A contractor power-washing the restaurant reportedly handed over the chemical two days earlier; the health permit was suspended and later reinstated, and nobody checked the sugar.

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  1. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThree customers and two employees had symptoms, including chemical burns in and around their mouths.

  2. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWRAL reports an employee used a granulated degreasing chemical in the margaritas because they thought it was sugar.

  3. Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorHow do you mistake degreaser for sugar?

  4. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe health district says the container was unlabeled and was brought inside and left in the bar area.

  5. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorPreliminary findings say a contractor power-washing the outside handed it over about two days before.

  6. Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSo no label, and the label was a guess. It was a guess all the way down to the glass.

  7. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIs the restaurant still open? Can I still get my chips and queso?

  8. Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSpoken like a man with a plan.

  9. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe permit was suspended, then reinstated. So that's the one step where somebody actually checked something.

  10. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe health director says it shows the importance of proper labeling. I'm sticking to beer.

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From the archive: everything BBN aired on Friday, October 30, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months