A Massachusetts A teenager who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge on social media died from eating a large amount of chili pepper extract and also had a congenital heart defect, according to autopsy results obtained by The Associated Press.
Harris Wollobach, A 10th grader from the city of Worcesterdied on September 1, 2023, after eating the Paqui chip as part of the manufacturer’s “One Chip Challenge”.
“We were and remain deeply saddened by the death of Harris Walloba and extend our condolences to his family and friends,” Paqui, a Texas-based subsidiary of Hershey Co, said in a statement Thursday. A phone number listed for Harris’ family has been disconnected. The Associated Press left messages seeking comment with friends of the family.
Harris died of cardiopulmonary arrest “in the context of recent ingestion of a food substance with a high concentration of capsaicin,” according to an autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Capsaicin is the component that gives chili peppers their heat.
The autopsy also said Harris had cardiomegaly, meaning an enlarged heart, and a birth defect described as “myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending coronary artery.”
A myocardial bridge occurs when a segment of a major cardiac artery passes into the heart muscle instead of on its surface, according to Dr. James Udelson, chief of cardiology at Tufts Medical Center.
“It is possible that with significant stimulation of the heart, the muscle across the pons suddenly had abnormal blood flow (‘ischemia’) and was the cause of the severe arrhythmia,” Udelson told the AP in an email. “There have been reports of acute toxicity with capsaicin causing myocardial ischemia.”
Large doses of capsaicin can increase the pressure on the heart, putting extra pressure on the artery, noted Dr. Syed Haider, a cardiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
But while the autopsy results suggest that a heart defect likely made Harris more vulnerable to the negative effects of chili pepper extract, people without underlying risk factors can also experience serious heart problems from ingesting large amounts of capsaicin, Hyder said.
Udelson and Hyder spoke in general terms; none of them were involved in the Harris case.
The Paqui chip, sold separately for about $10, was wrapped in foil in a coffin-shaped box bearing the warning that it was intended for the “vengeful pleasure of intense heat and pain.” The warning notes that the chip is for adult consumption only and should be kept away from children.
Despite the warning, the kids had no problem buying the chips and there were reports from all over the country of teenagers who fell ill after taking part in a chip eating challenge. They included three high school students in California who were taken to hospital and seven students in Minnesota who were treated by paramedics after participating in the 2022 challenge.
In its statement Thursday, Paqui cited the chip’s “clear and prominent labeling that emphasizes that the product is not for children or people sensitive to spicy foods or with underlying health problems.”
“We have seen increased reports of teenagers and others not heeding these warnings,” the statement said. “As a result, although the product adhered to food safety standards, out of an abundance of caution, we worked with retailers to voluntarily remove the product from shelves in September 2023 and the One Chip Challenge has been discontinued.”
The challenge required participants to eat the Paqui chip and then see how long they could last without consuming other food and water. Sales of the chip appeared to be largely driven by people posting videos on social media of themselves or their friends taking on the challenge. They showed people, including children, unwrapping the packaging, eating the chips and then reacting to the heat. Some videos show people gasping, coughing and begging for water.
Spicy food challenges have been around for years, but super-spicy products created and marketed solely for the challenges — and possible Internet fame — are a more recent phenomenon, fueled by social media.
A YouTube series called Hot Ones gained internet notoriety a few years ago with videos of celebrities’ reactions to eating spicy wings. Meanwhile, restaurants across the country are offering personal challenges, from Buffalo Wild Wings’ “Blazin’ Challenge” to Wing King’s “Hell Challenge” in Las Vegas. In both challenges, patrons over the age of 18 can try to eat a certain amount of wings topped with extra hot sauce for a limited time without drinking or eating any other food. Chili pepper eating contests are also held regularly around the world.
Harris’ death prompted warnings from authorities and doctors in Massachusetts, who warned that eating such spicy foods could have unintended consequences. Since the chips became fashionable, poison control centers have warned that concentrated amounts can cause allergic reactions, breathing problems, irregular heartbeats and even heart attacks or strokes.
