'One Chip Challenge' pulled from shelves after mother says spicy tortilla chip contributed to her son's death

deconstruct@lemm.ee to News@lemmy.world – 360 points –
'One Chip Challenge' pulled from shelves after mother says spicy chip contributed to son's death
nbcnews.com

Paqui, the maker of extremely spicy tortilla chips marketed as the “One Chip Challenge,” is voluntarily pulling the product from shelves after a woman said her teenage son died of complications from consuming a single chip.

The chips were sold individually, and their seasoning included two of the hottest peppers in the world: the Carolina Reaper and the Naga Viper.

Each chip was packaged in a coffin-shaped container with a skull on the front.

Lois Wolobah told NBC Boston that her 14-year-old son, Harris Wolobah, ate the chip Friday, then went to the school nurse with a stomachache. Wolobah said Harris — a sophomore at Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester, Massachusetts — passed out at home that afternoon. He was pronounced dead at the hospital later that day, she said.

Until sales of the product were suspended, Paqui's marketing dared people to participate in the challenge by eating a chip, posting pictures of their tongues on social media after the chip turned it blue and then waiting as long as possible to relieve the burn with water or other food.

The challenge has existed in some form since 2016.

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Same. Also some people just don't seem to be able to identify any flavor beneath the heat.

My limit is this one Asian food place in Houston. I got some chicken that I didn't realize was hot. Me and my coworkers go back to the office (a very large room). I open that to go box and everyone in the room choked from the heat of just the smell. It was strong even from the other side of this room that's probably 80x80ft room with 40ft ceilings.

I was crying, sweating, turning red, nose running everything. Everybode else was getting a little bit of bloodshot eyes.

Of course then everyone tried convincing me to eat the pepper itself. Ain't no way.

When I was finished we wraped it in like 3 plastic bags and took it outside and down the sidewalk and put it in a trashcan there.

But that was some damn good chicken. 5 stars, would suffer again.

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