In a devastating turn of events, the parents of a teen boy who tragically passed away after consuming a spicy potato chip have taken legal action against the chip’s manufacturer.
Last September, Harris Wolobah, a sophomore from Worcester, Massachusetts, suffered a fatal cardiac arrest shortly after participating in the ‘One Chip Challenge,’ which involved eating an extremely spicy chip from Paqui.
Harris, who had an underlying heart condition, experienced a severe reaction to the chip’s high levels of chili pepper extract, marketed as the hottest in the world.
Harris’s family has filed a lawsuit against Paqui and its parent company, Hershey.
They have also implicated Walgreens for selling the chips, alleging negligence in selling such a product to children.
The family has not disclosed whether they are seeking financial compensation.
Paqui expressed condolences for Harris’s death but emphasized that the chip was clearly labeled as unsuitable for children or individuals sensitive to spicy foods or with underlying health conditions.
The chip, priced at about $10 each, was packaged in a coffin-shaped box with warnings emphasizing its intense heat and adult-oriented consumption.
Despite warnings, there were numerous incidents nationwide of teens falling ill after taking part in the challenge.
Several students required medical attention in California and Minnesota in 2022, highlighting the risks associated with consuming such high-concentration spicy foods.
The popularity of the chip was largely fueled by social media, where participants posted videos of themselves attempting the challenge.
These videos often showed extreme reactions, including gagging and pleading for water, particularly alarming when involving minors.
Following Harris’s tragic death, Massachusetts authorities issued warnings about the dangers of consuming excessively spicy foods.
Subsequently, the product was removed from store shelves.
Medical Examinations and Pre-existing Conditions
Autopsy results revealed that Harris’s death was due to cardiac arrest triggered by the ingestion of the chip’s high capsaicin content.
He had an enlarged heart and a congenital defect affecting blood flow, conditions of which neither he nor his parents were aware.
Medical Insights and Risks of Capsaicin
Dr. Jack Rubinstein, a cardiologist, explained that while capsaicin typically causes discomfort in most people, it can have severe consequences for individuals like Harris, exacerbating underlying heart issues and potentially leading to cardiac malfunction.
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