A lawsuit was filed Thursday in the case of a Massachusetts teenager who died after participating in a spicy tortilla chip challenge on social media.
Harris Wolobah, a 10th grader from Worcester, died on September 1, 2023 after eating the Paqui chip as part of the manufacturer’s “One Chip Challenge.” An autopsy revealed that Wolobah died after eating a large amount of chili pepper extract and also had a congenital heart defect.
Harris died of cardiac arrest “in the context of recent ingestion of a food containing a high concentration of capsaicin,” according to the autopsy report by the Chief Office of the Medical Examiner. Capsaicin is the compound that gives chili peppers their heat.
The autopsy also revealed that Harris had cardiomegaly, meaning he had an enlarged heart, and a congenital abnormality described as “myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending coronary artery.”
Paqui, a subsidiary of Texas-based Hershey Co., expressed sadness over Wolobah’s death but also cited the chip’s “clear and prominent labeling, which emphasizes that the product is not intended for children or people with sensitivities to spicy foods or underlying health conditions.”
The Paqui chip, which sold individually for about $10, came wrapped in foil in a coffin-shaped box with a warning that it was intended for the “vengeful enjoyment of intense heat and pain.” The warning stated that the chip was intended for adult consumption only and should be kept out of reach of children.
Despite the warning, kids had no problem buying the chips, and there were reports from across the country of teens getting sick after taking part in the chip-eating challenge. Among them were three California high school students who were taken to a hospital and seven Minnesota students who were treated by paramedics after taking part in the 2022 challenge.
The challenge involved participants eating the Paqui chip and then seeing how long they could go without consuming other food and water. Sales of the chip appeared to be driven largely by people posting videos on social media of themselves or their friends doing the challenge. They showed people, including children, unwrapping the package, eating the chips and then reacting to the heat. Some videos showed people gagging, coughing and begging for water.
Harris’ death prompted warnings from Massachusetts authorities and doctors that eating such spicy foods could have unintended consequences. Since the chip craze began, poison control centers have warned that the concentrated amounts can cause allergic reactions, breathing problems, irregular heartbeats and even heart attacks or strokes.