Teen who ate spicy tortilla chip died of high chile consumption and had a heart defect, autopsy says

Steve LeBlanc, Kathy Mccormack and Michael Casey, Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts teen who participated successful a spicy tortilla spot situation connected societal media died from eating a ample amount of chile capsicum extract and besides had a congenital bosom defect, according to autopsy results obtained by The Associated Press.

Harris Wolobah, a 10th grader from nan metropolis of Worcester, died connected Sept. 1, 2023, aft eating nan Paqui spot arsenic portion of nan manufacturer’s “One Chip Challenge.”

RELATED | Teen dies aft participating successful One Chip Challenge, constabulary say

RELATED | Company voluntarily removing One Chip Challenge merchandise from shelves pursuing teen’s death

RELATED | Spicy nutrient challenges person a agelong history. Have they go excessively extreme?

“We were and stay profoundly saddened by nan decease of Harris Wolobah and widen our condolences to his family and friends,” Paqui, a Texas-based subsidiary of nan Hershey Co., said successful a connection Thursday. A telephone number listed for Harris’ family was disconnected. The Associated Press near messages seeking remark pinch friends of nan family.

Harris died of cardiopulmonary apprehension “in nan mounting of caller ingestion of nutrient constituent pinch precocious capsaicin concentration,” according to nan autopsy from nan Chief Office of nan Medical Examiner. Capsaicin is nan constituent that gives chile peppers their heat.

The autopsy besides said that Harris had cardiomegaly, meaning an enlarged heart, and a congenital defect described arsenic “myocardial bridging of nan near anterior descending coronary artery.”

A myocardial span occurs erstwhile a conception of a awesome artery of nan bosom runs wrong nan bosom musculus alternatively of connected its surface, according to Dr. James Udelson, main of cardiology astatine Tufts Medical Center.

“It is imaginable that pinch important stimulation of nan heart, nan musculus beyond nan span abruptly had abnormal humor travel (‘ischemia’) and could person been a origin of a terrible arrhythmia,” Udelson told nan AP successful an email. “There person been reports of acute toxicity pinch capsaicin causing ischemia of nan bosom muscle.”

Large doses of capsaicin tin summation really nan bosom squeezes, putting other unit connected nan artery, noted Dr. Syed Haider, a cardiologist astatine MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

But while nan autopsy results propose that a bosom defect astir apt made Harris much susceptible to nan antagonistic effects of nan chile capsicum extract, group without underlying consequence factors tin besides acquisition superior bosom problems from ingesting ample amounts of capsaicin, Haider said.

Udelson and Haider some said successful wide terms; neither was progressive successful Harris’ case.

The origin of Harris’ decease was wished connected Feb. 27, and a decease certificate was released to nan Worcester metropolis clerk’s agency connected March 5, according to Elaine Driscoll, a spokesperson for nan Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The authorities only released nan origin and mode of death. Officials will not merchandise a afloat report, which is not considered portion of nan nationalist record, she said.

The Paqui chip, sold individually for astir $10, came wrapped successful foil successful a coffin-shaped container containing nan informing that it was intended for nan “vengeful pleasance of aggravated power and pain.” The informing noted that nan spot was for big depletion only, and should beryllium kept retired of nan scope of children.

Despite nan warning, children had nary problem buying nan chips, and location had been reports from astir nan state of teens who sewage sick aft taking portion successful nan chip-eating challenge. Among them were 3 California precocious schoolhouse students who were taken to a infirmary and 7 students successful Minnesota who were treated by paramedics aft taking portion successful nan situation successful 2022.

In its connection Thursday, Paqui cited nan chip’s “clear and salient labeling highlighting that nan merchandise was not for children aliases anyone delicate to spicy foods aliases pinch underlying wellness conditions.”

“We saw accrued reports of teens and different individuals not heeding these warnings,” nan connection read. “As a result, while nan merchandise adhered to nutrient information standards, retired of an abundance of caution, we worked pinch retailers to voluntarily region nan merchandise from shelves successful September 2023, and nan One Chip Challenge has been discontinued.”

A package of Paqui One Chip Challenge spicy tortilla chips is seen connected Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, successful Boston. Authorities are raising nan siren astir a One Chip Challenge societal media inclination that encourages group to debar seeking alleviation from eating and drinking for arsenic agelong arsenic imaginable aft eating nan chips, days aft a Massachusetts teen died hours aft taking portion successful nan challenge. The situation is celebrated connected societal media sites, pinch scores of group including children unwrapping nan packaging, eating nan chips and reacting to nan heat. | AP Photo/Steve LeBlanc

The situation called for participants to eat nan Paqui spot and past spot really agelong they could spell without consuming different nutrient and water. Sales of nan spot seemed mostly driven by group posting videos connected societal media of them aliases their friends taking nan challenge. They showed people, including children, unwrapping nan packaging, eating nan chips and past reacting to nan heat. Some videos showed group gagging, coughing and begging for water.

Spicy nutrient challenges person been astir for years. From section chile capsicum eating contests to edifice walls of fame for those who vanished other basking dishes, group astir nan world person been daring each different to eat particularly fiery foods, pinch immoderate experts pointing to nan soul unreserved of title and risk-taking.

A YouTube bid called “Hot Ones” roseate to net fame respective years agone pinch videos of celebrities’ reactions to eating spicy wings. Meanwhile, restaurants nationwide person offered in-person challenges — from Buffalo Wild Wings’ “Blazin’ Challenge” to nan “Hell Challenge” of Wing King successful Las Vegas. In some challenges, patrons complete 18 tin effort to eat a definite magnitude of wings doused successful other basking condiment successful constricted clip without drinking aliases eating different food. Chile capsicum eating contests are besides regularly hosted astir nan world.

Extremely spicy products created and marketed solely for nan challenges — and imaginable net fame — correspond a much caller arena exacerbated by societal media.

Harris’ decease spurred warnings from Massachusetts authorities and physicians, who cautioned that eating specified spicy foods tin person unintended consequences. Since nan spot fad emerged, poison power centers person warned that nan concentrated magnitude could origin allergic reactions, problem breathing, irregular heartbeats and moreover bosom attacks aliases strokes.