The viral ‘One Chip Challenge’ is under scrutiny after a 14-year-old Massachusetts teen died after consuming the notoriously hot chip while at school.


Harris Wolobah, who partook in the chip challenge while at school, fainted after eating the chip and later died in the emergency room after again fighting at home. Paqui’s ‘One Chip Challenge’ is a packaged single tortilla chip seasoned with the two hottest peppers in the world, the Carolina Reaper and the Naga Viper. The challenge has become an internet staple with the likes of Shaq, Tony Hawk, and many other well-known figures partaking in the trend.



The teen’s parents say he had no preexisting conditions or allergies that they know of. The teen's cause of death has yet to be announced due to a pending autopsy, yet Wolobah’s parents are warning others about the dangers of the viral challenge.



The packaging for the chip does contain warnings to “Keep out of reach of children” and to not consume if “sensitive to spicy foods, allergic to spicy peppers, nightshades or capsaicin.” The package also urges consumers to seek medical assistance if experiencing “difficulty breathing, fainting or nausea.”



Hopefully, this tragic death is the final nail in the era of viral internet challenges, but we aren’t holding our breath.