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full screen A package with the super strong tortilla chips. On social media, the so-called “One Chip Challenge” challenged people to eat one of the chips seasoned with very strong chili pepper. Archive image. Photo: Steve Leblanc/AP/TT
A 14-year-old boy in Massachusetts in the US died after taking part in a social media challenge to eat a highly spiced tortilla chip while filming his own reaction to it.
The results of the autopsy performed after the boy’s death in September were reported on Thursday and showed that the tortilla chips from the company Paqui were behind the death.
The coroner states that the 14-year-old’s heart stopped after he ate a food with a large amount of chili pepper extract called caspsaicin, according to the autopsy report obtained by AFP.
The report also states that the boy had an enlarged heart, which may have contributed to his death.
Chip maker Paqui withdrew the extremely hot tortilla chip, which was packaged in a coffin-shaped box, from store shelves the day after the boy’s death.