Death of 14-year-old teenager Harris Wolobah is probed by authorities after he died in viral 'One Chip Challenge' where he ate Paqui's spiciest chip in the world - as company pulls product from shelves across the US

Daily Mail ^ | 9/08/23 | Ishita Srivastava

[Libloather]

The death of a 14-year-old teenager is being investigated by Massachusetts authorities after he died while participating in the viral 'One Chip Challenge'.

Harris Wolobah died on September 1 in Worcester after eating the spiciest chip in the world.

The cause of Harris' death is yet to be determined and an autopsy report is pending, but the teenager's family have blamed the challenge for his death.

Since his death, the spicy snack's manufacturer, Paqui, has now asked retailers across the US to stop selling the individually wrapped chips - a step 7-Eleven has already taken.

The One Chip Challenge chip sells for about $10 and comes wrapped in a sealed foil pouch that is enclosed in a coffin-shaped cardboard box.

The package warns the chip is made for the 'vengeful pleasure of intense heat and pain,' is intended for adults and should be kept out of reach of children.

Paqui, a subsidiary of The Hershey Company, said in a statement posted on its website Thursday that it was 'deeply saddened by the death' of Wolobah.

In a statement, the company said: '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 abundance of caution, we are actively working with retailers to remove the product from shelves.'

While the product has been pulled from shelves, it is unclear whether it will be completely discontinued or re-branded by the company.

The company also released a statement at the top of its website making clear that the 'challenge' is 'for adults only.'

The warning emphasizes the 'clear and prominent labeling' that specifies 'the chip is not for children or anyone sensitive to spicy foods.'

[Vaduz]

Some make it past the teenage years some don’t.

Never trust a dare

[Rannug]

Want hot? Indian Turnip. DO NOT EAT IT.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

One drop of Dave’s Insanity Sauce is my limit.

[Jamestown1630]

I’ve had Taki’s. They’re not bad, if you actually like hot stuff.

[Night Hides Not]

My FIL made THE best Chili Colorado. He warned me that he “may have made it a little too hot.”

He finally quit asking me when I was working on thirds, with tears streaming down my cheeks.

Yeah, it was hot, but I’m sure not in the same league as those chips

[TangoLimaSierra]

Waiting for the “Rat poison Tik Tok Challenge”.

[TribalPrincess2U]

>The package warns the chip is made for the ‘vengeful pleasure of intense heat and pain,’ is intended for adults and should be kept out of reach of children.<

In other words.....Hey kids, DOUBLE DARE YOIU!

[patriot torch]

“In other words.....Hey kids, DOUBLE DARE YOIU!”

_______________________

True, but I guess this is better then when they were challenging each other to see who could eat the most Tide pods. lol

[P.O.E.]

I’ve got some super-hot peppers growing in my garden now. Not sure what to do with them. So far just putting them in the freezer.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Tide pods killed?

[Quickgun]

My nephew thought he was tough enough to eat one. He spit it out, but we still thought we were going to have to take him to the hospital. We use tiny amounts in cooking but I’d never put even part of one in my mouth.

[nevadapatriot]

>My nephew thought he was tough enough to eat one. He spit it out, but we still thought we were going to have to take him to the hospital. We use tiny amounts in cooking but I’d never put even part of one in my mouth.

Hottest I go is Habanero but even then not that much, I do like the flavor but it tends to get lost in the heat. A little goes a long way

[dinodino]

Ditto.

[Lean-Right]

Until you consider New Mexico
where the state question is
“red or green?”
I’ve lived in both Texas (where
Tex Mex is prevalent), The hottest
pepper favored there is the
Jalapeño, and also in New Mexico
where most really do enjoy a
good hot spicy plate of red or
green enchiladas. The first
peppers to be sold out at local
growers farms, are the super spicy
red and chilies. Hatch and Derrey
NM are world renowned for their
peppers. Most of the canned green
peppers one finds in a grocery
store are from Hatch.
I’ve tried the chip challenge.
But knowing how spicy some peppers
can be, approached that challenge
with caution. (as an adult would).
I failed the challange,, even though
my personal taste for Mexican food
is the hotter, the better.