Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SOUTH JORDAN — The Dickey’s Barbecue Pit restaurant in South Jordan received notice of health violations during a visit from inspectors earlier this year.
The restaurant is now at the heart of a toxic tea situation after a patron consumed sweet tea containing a degreaser. Police investigating the case suspect the chemical had been mistaken for sugar.
The Salt Lake Valley Health Department noted seven violations during the inspection in January. They included not labeling food containers properly.
"Mislabeling of food is a common violation," health department spokesman Nicholas Rupp said.
The label problems are considered a non-critical violation that do not require an immediate follow-up visit.
Mislabeling of food is a common violation
–Nicholas Rupp, health department spokesman
The department’s website says bulk ingredients like sugar should be placed in individual containers and labeled, so they aren't confused with other ingredients.
The health department’s most recent report showed that Dickey’s sugar containers “are not labeled with the common name of the food.”
Jan Harding took a sip of the sweet tea and immediately told her husband she believed she had swallowed acid. Her attorney said an employee thought the powdered cleaner containing lye was sugar.
A check of a 2013 inspection showed five violations, none of which involved mislabeling.
