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.

  • Kevin@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    You don’t eat this chip because it’s good, you eat it because it’s one of the spiciest things you can get (and it’s fun).

    • Hazdaz@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      This is an extreme example. Plenty of other things out there are just a dumb pissing contest to see who can make the hottest sauce, wings, chip, ribs, etc.

      • Just_Not_Funny@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I looove hot and spicy foods and refuse to take part in any of that nonsense.

        People look at me like I’m crazy and I have to explain that, yes, I like hot and spicy flavors but that doesn’t mean I’d eat a spoonful of godamn lava.

        I enjoy watching people do it though and always offer to buy drinks for someone who does it, lol.