Teen's death sparks controversy over viral 'One Chip Challenge'

The "One Chip Challenge" involves eating an extremely spicy chip. Daredevils record their reactions to the snack, which usually include crying, a red face, and begging for water. For the teenager from Massachusetts, it ended in death.

Harris Wolobah died on September 1, 2023, but only now has the report from the 14-year-old's autopsy brought attention from the Associated Press. The cause of death was cardiac arrest and respiratory failure related to the consumption of a product with a high concentration of capsaicin, a chemical compound naturally found in chilli peppers. The boy also had a congenital heart defect that contributed to the cardiac arrest.

Harris received the snack from a friend. After eating the chip, he fainted at school, and his parents took him home. He then lost consciousness again and was transported to the hospital, where he died. The teenager's family told the media that they felt enraged after learning the cause of death.

Paqui, the snack's producer, withdrew the extremely spicy product from store shelves after the teenager's death. The chip cost $10 and was wrapped in foil and placed in a coffin-shaped box. The box had a warning that the product was intended for consumption by adults and should be kept away from children.

Despite the producer's warnings, children and teenagers had no trouble purchasing the product. Reports from across the USA have come in about young people falling ill after eating the spicy snack. At one time, the story of seven students from Minnesota who had to receive medical help after eating the spicy chip echoed widely.

Experts strongly advise against testing spicy chips. "It is a kind of masochism to voluntarily expose oneself to stomach pain, diarrhea, or shortness of breath. Logic dictates avoiding this," said a gastroenterologist in a comment for Vibez.