I was hoping they would do that before there were any more tragedies.

It would make more sense to ban social media from kids...parents are failing!!!!

It would make more sense to ban social media from kids...parents are failing!!!!

Don't be ridiculous. Banning social media won't get rid of peer pressure and it won't stop people from trying things that might be risky or potentially harmful.

What's their slogan? "Bet you can eat just one, maybe"? Stupid challenges, might as well try to down a can of pepper spray.

I was eyeing them a while back. Guess I’m stupid, I’d be up for the challenge with friends but not liking the per chip price.

How incredibly stupid some people are!!!

Is that nice to say about a fellow forum member? ;)

I recall during my days as a school nurse the elementary students would come see me sometimes after eating Flamin' Hot Cheetos, with a stomach ache. These were actually sold by the cafeteria. I seem to remember that between me and the parents who would come pick up the children, in my school anyway, they stopped offering that particular kind of snack.

Years ago I was having pho with a friend at a very good restaurant. I ordered the moderately spicy and the friend got the more highly spiced. I like quite spicy foods (not ”contest” spicy). I liked my soup and wanted to take a taste I hers.

Well, just after the first or second spoonful, I began choking and could not catch my breath for some moments. I felt like I was going to die, but after a protacted struggle, I finally manged to get some air. That was quite an experience.

Late last night, I quickly read an account of the teen’s experience and I thought the article indicated that s/he did not succumb immediately but went home first (which would be odd). Is that correct? I will try to read more soon.

Kids, teens, young folks often experiment or undertake challenges or dares. Some die. Some are victims of someone else’s decision to risk — teen passengers in a speeding vehicle, for example.

The autopsy isn't in yet so it's not confirmed if the death was due to the chip (or at least not as of an hour ago), but product is being pulled. There have been reports of other kids getting sick after eating these, but this is the first potential death. I think they might be covering themselves with the pull. The chips are meant for adults, but if there isn't an ID/age requirement to buy them, kids are gonna get them and keep trying them.

I agree with Arcy, at least about TikTok. It's owned by China, and they don't even allow the people in their country to see the content that's on the American version. Apparently, it's also used to spy on Americans.

My son and grandson did the one chip challenge, but they each only had half a chip. These are grown men who are used to eating hot peppers (My son has a bunch of Carolina Reaper peppers, from plants he grew, in the kitchen right now.) It didn't have much effect on my son, but my grandson was a different story. I can't imagine the effect a whole chip would have on a 14-year-old boy, who probably never ate a hot pepper in his life.

This reminds of the Tide Pod challenge from TikTok. It's a miracle no one died from that. Children don't have good judgement and tend to go along with their friends. They often do dangerous things behind their parent's backs..

" Is that nice to say about a fellow forum member? ;) "

It may not be particularly 'nice' but it is certainly true!!

My son-in-law did the challenge. He ate it, but was violently ill for the next few hours. We just laughed at his stupidity. He still doesn't regret it. He LOVES hot foods, but he said that was next-level.

I wouldn't try it and I'm glad they've been pulled. I don't think they are the first company to issue a too-hot-to-eat chip though. It's been a few years but I watched two newscasters daring each other on air one day. The young woman had a lot of spice laden things in her background (not sure now of her nationality) and the brave young man did not. She ate the chips and did fine, didn't even smear her makeup with tears or anything. He had an awful time, slobbering and sweating and actually threw them back up into the bowl. On air.

I like spicy, sometimes quite hot. I have no reason to invite pain though. The bartender at our fav Mex restaurant makes the best bloody marys in the world with lots of vegetables and I'll occasionally order one. He'll ask, what level of hot - and I tell him dial it back just a couple of notches to the range of closer to medium hot so I can enjoy the taste of the things in it and not just burn ;)

From the Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/09/07/what-is-one-chip-challenge/

Very sad. The child was only 14 and by this account apparently recovered after fainting and showed his mother the chip (or perhaps the packaging?).

Apparently the mother was called and went to scoll to pick the boy up and take him home, not to a medical fascility. A few hours later the child again passes out and home, and later died at an emergency room.

There isn’t enough infomation in this article.

Did the boy eat a whole chip? Just one? Why didn’t the school call for an ambulance? Did the school or mother understand the nature of that particular taco chip? From where did the boy obtain the chip? And why did he die some hors later? Perhaps he regurgitated or vomited. Very spicy chilies can cause gastritis and nausea, Did the kid then aspirate on any vomitus?

I think that's good thing, and hopefully, the company will pivot to something more benign.

Petalique's comment is spot on, IMO. Teens & pre-teens have never been known for their ability to always make measured, wise decisions.

Way before social media was even a thing, there were a number of reported incidents here where teens dropped concrete blocks off highway overpasses onto passing vehicles, or placed them in paper bags on roadways - just having some fun, I guess...

I think The Guardian offers a better report.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/05/massachusetts-teen-dies-spicy-tortilla-chip-pacqui

Harris’s mother, Lois Wolobah, told the local television news outlet WBTSthat her son was given a Paqui chip by a fellow student at Doherty Memorial high school in Worcester, Massachusetts. Harris soon had an intense stomachache and went to the school nurse, who called his mother to pick him up.

Harris felt some relief after going home, but then he lost consciousness as he prepared to go try out for a basketball team, Lois Wolobah reportedly said.

After his brother found him passed out, Harris was brought to a nearby hospital. He was pronounced dead there.

Worcester police confirmed that they were among the authorities investigating Harris’s death, WBTS reported. But officers stopped short of saying whether they were investigating any activities beyond the Harris’s consumption of a Paqui chip as a possible contributor to his death.

What a maddening shame.

And here is your tip for today, friends: If you come across someone who is ”passed out,” particularly if there is no good ’reason’ for it or if the person has reported feeling ill or out of sorts prior to you finding the individual unresponsive, dail 911 and get emergency first responders there QUICKLY! Do not minimize anything about the situation. Meanwhile, stay on the phone yell for help and try to get the person’s airway open. Learn basic first aid.

The boy was a child. There is no sane reason offered as to why he should be dead. And a death such is this has many victims and they will suffer for a long long time.

I have read that the capsaicin doesn't actually do damage itself since it is a sensory burn as opposed to a physical one but your brain can become confused and cause side effects that can cause damage like vomiting or trouble breathing. Such an unwise thing to do. I don't get the fixation with super hot because you essentially loose your sense of taste which means you cant taste your food.