A 14-year-old boy from Massachusetts died of cardiac arrest in September after participating in the “One Chip Challenge,” a social media dare involving an extremely spicy tortilla chip, an autopsy report revealed on Thursday. Harris Wolobah’s death was linked to his ingestion of a chip coated with Carolina Reaper and Naga Viper peppers, known for their extreme heat.
The autopsy, conducted by the local chief medical examiner and seen by AFP, noted that the teen had an enlarged heart, which may have contributed to his sudden death. The chip, produced by Paqui, contained a high concentration of capsaicin, a chili pepper extract. Following the incident, Paqui withdrew the product, which was notably packaged in a coffin-shaped box, from the market.
This challenge has previously led to severe health reactions in other states, including hospitalizations in California and illnesses in Minnesota.