What Is One Chip Challenge? Autopsy Confirms US Teen's Death After Eating Spicy Tortilla Chip
Paqui pulled the One Chip Challenge product from stores after the teenager's death last year.
The US teenager who died in September 2023 after eating a tortilla chip containing a high concentration of a chemical compound found in chilli peppers, suffered a heart attack, an autopsy has revealed.
Harris Wolobah, 14, collapsed after attempting Paqui’s ultra-spicy 'One Chip Challenge' when he ate a tortilla chip seasoned with both the Carolina Reaper pepper and the Naga Viper pepper.
According to a report in the Associated Press (AP), the cause of death was listed as cardiopulmonary arrest "in the setting of recent ingestion of food substance with high capsaicin concentration."
Capsaicin is the spicy, naturally occurring chemical in chilli peppers. The cause of death was determined on February 27, 2024, and the death certificate was released to the city clerk’s office on March 5.
The report said the 10th grader also had an enlarged heart and a congenital heart defect.
What Is One Chip Challenge?
The One Chip Challenge was started by the snack brand Paqui, which sold the singular spicy chip for $10. It came in a coffin-shaped box that bore an image of a skull with a snake coiled around it. According to their website, the directions were to "eat the entire chip and wait as long as possible before drinking or eating anything." The challengers were then asked to post their reaction on social media with #onechipchallenge and mention @paquichips."
The Carolina Reaper Pepper, used in the chip, is placed just below pepper spray on the Scoville scale that assesses the hotness of peppers and chillis. The Naga Viper, another ingredient, is slightly less pungent but records 1.2 million heat units on the scale. This level of spiciness crosses that of a jalapeno pepper.
According to the brand, the challenge was intended for adults only and not for children or anyone sensitive to spicy foods or with underlying health conditions.
What Happened To Harris Wolobah?
On September 1, 2023, Harris Wolobah attempted the viral 'One Chip Challenge'. His mother Lois Wolobah said she received a call from the school nurse and was notified that he had fainted after eating the chip. He was picked up by family members but found unconscious later that afternoon by 4.30 pm. Harris was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
What The Paqui Brand Said
Paqui pulled the One Chip Challenge product from stores after Harris’ death. The company, on their official website, had posted a statement and was offering reimbursement on the unconsumed single-serve 2023 Paqui Carolina Reaper + Naga Viper Pepper One Chip Challenge.
"The Paqui 'One Chip Challenge' is intended for adults only, with clear and prominent labelling highlighting the chip is not for children or anyone sensitive to spicy foods or who has food allergies, is pregnant or has underlying health conditions.
We have seen an increase in teens and other individuals not heeding these warnings. As a result, while the product continues to adhere to food safety standards, out of an abundance of caution, we are actively working with our retailers to remove the product from shelves," the statement read.
