The seemingly innocent "One Chip Challenge" involves a person eating a single chip containing obnoxiously hot peppers like the Carolina Reaper and the Naga Viper. The chip is no joke, and the back of the packaging specifically states that it should not be consumed by children, and one should seek medical assistance if they experience difficulty breathing, fainting, or extended nausea.
Tragically, a 14-year-old boy from Massachusetts has died after participating in the "One Chip Challenge." While official details have not been released regarding his official cause of death, it is worth noting that shortly after consuming the chip, the young man did experience many of the dangerous side effects warned about on the back of the chip's packaging.
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From WBAY:
A Massachusetts community is mourning a 14-year-old high school student who police say died the same day he participated in the social media trend known as the “One Chip Challenge.”
Harris Wolobah’s family says the sophomore took part in the challenge, which involves eating a single tortilla chip seasoned with some of the world’s hottest peppers, at Doherty Memorial High School on Friday. He died several hours later.
Jonathan Slavinskas, the pastor at St. Bernard’s Church, prayed with the family following their unthinkable loss.
“It just pauses you for a moment, makes you question what is going on. How did this happen?” he said. “No one wants the weight of this pain upon their hats, and they have a weight.”
Officials say it’s too early to know if eating the chip contributed to Harris’ death, but doctors say when people ingest capsaicin, an ingredient found naturally in the peppers used on the chip, the side effects can be dangerous.
“Sometimes we see people that will have a lot of chest pain, or they’ll experience things like palpitations as well. So, a whole variety of issues that we’re seeing with this ‘One Chip Challenge,’” said Dr. Lauren Rice, chief of pediatric emergency medicine at Tufts Medical Center.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is working to determine the official cause of Harris’ death.
As they begin processing, his friends, basketball teammates and coaches are honoring his life.
Douglas Hill coached the 14-year-old for St. Bernard’s Church. He says the teenager was quiet and reserved but was finding himself on the court.
“I think basketball provided a very specific environment for him where he could be free,” Hill said. “He did all the things that mattered.”
The team will be holding a charity basketball workout Saturday to benefit Harris’ family.
Many in Massachusetts are now calling for the "One Chip Challenge" to be banned in their state, and you really can't blame them.
It's terrifying that a child was able to obtain something so dangerous, and understandably, people are searching for ways to ensure this type of tragedy will never happen again.
