Those familiar with the web series “Hot Ones” know that certain levels of spice can quickly cause sweating, redness, physical discomfort and fear. For some people, spice can even be deadly.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety revealed to USA Today that a 14-year-old-boy who died last September suffered from cardiac arrest brought on by a single hot tortilla chip. This chip was marketed by Paqui as the “One Chip Challenge” and eating it also became a challenge on social media.
Harris Wolobah, the teen who died in Massachusetts, was one of the people who took on the challenge. His family suspected that his tragic death was a result of it, according to a GoFundMe page that received nearly $40,000.
“The pain our family is experiencing is unimaginable,” said the page. “Harris was a light that lit up the room with his presence and subtle charm. He was an intelligent, quirky and incredibly talented young man who loved video games and playing basketball!”
Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Rachel Monárrez described the Doherty Memorial High School sophomore as a “rising star.”
According to USA Today, Wolobah had a condition that caused him to have an enlarged heart. Cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, indicates that a condition is putting strain on an individual’s heart, per the Cleveland Clinic. USA Today said Wolobah also had a “heart defect where an artery goes through the heart's muscle instead of lying on the surface of the heart.”
Elaine Driscoll, a spokesperson for the Executive Office of Public Safety, said Wolobah experienced cardiopulmonary arrest (sudden cessation of heart beats) “in the setting of recent ingestion of food substance with high capsaicin concentration.”
Capsaicin is a chili pepper extract and a member of the vanilloid family, according to the National Library of Medicine, which describes its method of action. Per the library, capsaicin is a potent irritant, especially when exposed to mucous membranes.
“Some people who have used capsaicin to lose weight have presented to the emergency department with profuse diaphoresis and chest pain. In these patients, reports of myocardial ischemia have been reported,” it said.
A 2012 study published in the International Journal of Emergency Medicine also reported that a “previously healthy young male” developed severe chest pain after using cayenne pepper pills containing capsaicin and sustained an extensive inferior myocardial infarction. Other research has shown that a diet with capsaicin can improve heart health for some people, per the Mayo Clinic.
A spokesperson at chip company Paqui told USA Today the One Chip Challenge was labeled for adults only. It was coated with flakes of Carolina Reaper and Naga Viper peppers and both have more than 1 million units on the Scoville scale, according to Eater.
After Wolobah’s death, the company worked with retailers to remove the chips from shelves.
“We were and remain deeply saddened by the death of Harris Wolobah and extend our condolences to his family and friends,” Paqui spokesperson Kim Metcalfe told USA Today. “Paqui’s One Chip Challenge was intended for adults only, with clear and prominent labeling highlighting that the product was not for children or anyone sensitive to spicy foods or with underlying health conditions.”
However, since there were reports of teens and others not heeding the warnings, the company decided to discontinue sales of the chip. Some online listings for the chip still exist, and one viewed Friday by Audacy warned: “The product is for collection only, we are not responsible for the consumption of this product, do not leave it within the reach of children or those under 21, if you have medical problems or are taking pills.”
Last year, Audacy also reported on the death of a 13-year-old-boy due to a social media challenge that involved taking the over-the-counter antihistamine Benadryl.