Cause of Death Revealed for Teen Who Died After ‘One Chip Challenge’

The cause of death of a 14-year-old boy who died after participating in Paqui’s “One Chip Challenge” has been confirmed.

Harris Wolobah, a sophomore at Doherty Memorial High School in Massachusetts, died from consuming a large amount of chili pepper extract, according to the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Wolobah’s exact cause of death was ruled to be cardiopulmonary arrest “in the context of recent ingestion of food with a high concentration of capsaicin.” The investigator could not confirm that the chip was the source of the capsaicin.

However, they determined that the high school student has an enlarged heart and a congenital heart defect. His family was unaware of the condition at the time of his death, which is not uncommon with cardiomegaly, according to the NIH.

“We were and remain deeply saddened by the death of Harris Wolobah and offer our condolences to his family and friends,” a rep for Paqui told PEOPLE following news of the autopsy. “Paqui’s One Chip Challenge was intended for adults only, with clear and prominent labeling emphasizing that the product is not for children or people sensitive to spicy foods or people with underlying health conditions.”

Harris Wolobah, the Massachusetts teenager who died after eating spicy chips for a social media challenge.

GoFundMe

“We have seen an increase in reports of teenagers and other individuals not heeding these warnings. As a result, although the product was in compliance with food safety standards, out of an abundance of caution we have worked with retailers to voluntarily remove the product from shelves in September 2023.” and the One Chip Challenge has been discontinued,” they added in a statement.

Wolobah participated in the snack brand’s “One Chip Challenge” on Sept. 1, according to CBS News’ WBZ. A viral trend on social media involved eating chips that contained Carolina Reaper and Naga Viper peppers.

A social media trend has caused some children to throw up, sweat profusely and turn their tongues blue after taking part in the One Chip Challenge.

Sarah Dussault/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty

Paqui’s spokesperson also offered his condolences at the time in a statement to PEOPLE on Sept. 7.

Lois Wolobah, Harris’ mother, told WBZ that the school nurse called her on Sept. 1 and informed her that he had passed out after eating potato chips. Family members then picked up Harris and drove him home before discovering him unconscious by 4:30 p.m., according to the outlet.

Lois told NBC-10 Boston that Harris was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A spokesperson for Worcester Public Schools confirmed to the news outlet that Harris had not been feeling well and visited the nurse’s office, then left and died that day.

The boy’s father, Amos Wolobah, told WBZ that his son “had no pre-existing conditions.”

“I pray to God that no parent goes through what I’m going through,” Lois told WBZ. “I don’t want to see anyone suffer the way I’m suffering. I miss my son very much, I miss him very much.”

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A GoFundMe created by Harris’ cousin described the high school sophomore as “a light that lit up a room with her presence and subtle charm.” The post added that Harris is “intelligent, quirky and incredibly talented.”

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Paqui pulled the One Chip Challenge product from stores after Harris’ death. Paqui sold a single spicy chip for $10, and the instructions on its website were to “eat the whole chip.” Wait as long as possible before eating or drinking. Post your reaction on social media with #onechipchallenge and mention @paquichips.”

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Following an increase in the number of minors consuming the product contrary to the warning on the packaging – including Harris – Paqui issued a statement.

“Although the Paqui One Chip Challenge is intended for adults only, we have seen an increase in the use of the product among teenagers,” a Paqui spokesperson said on September 7.

We care about all our consumers and have made the decision to remove the product from the shelves, they added. “The product label clearly states that it is not for children or anyone who is sensitive to spicy food or who has a food allergy, is pregnant or has any other health problems. We actively work with our sellers and offer refunds on all purchases of our individual meal product with one chip.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education