The popularity of the "One Chip Challenge" by Paqui sparked an internet craze that has garnered involvement from celebrities such as Lil Uzi Vert, Travis Kelce, and Tony Hawk. The name of the game is simple: You consume one of the extremley spicy chips at your own risk before waiting as long as possible to ease the burning sensation with water or any beverage. While the popular tortilla chip has made its rounds as the latest trend similar to the "Bucket Challenge" and "Milk Crate Challenge" of 2020 and 2021, it has proven far more hazardous than its social media predecessors. Last year, the "One Chip Challenge" sent several consumers to the hospital for excruciating mouth, throat, stomach pain, and nausea. Some of the incidents were dismissed as good fun amid fair warnings from the manufacturer, that was not the case when a certain teenager from Worcester, Massachusetts, took on the infamous "challenge."

Last Friday, a 14-year-old named Harris Wolobah consumed the "One Chip Challenge" while on campus at Doherty High School. The tortilla chip immediately caused the 10th grader to feel nauseated as he went to the school's nurse. Within a few hours of being picked up from school by his mother, Lois Wolobah, Harris unexpectedly passed away. The news sent shockwaves throughout the country, prompting a response from Amplify Snack Brands, Inc.

"We are deeply saddened by the death of Harris Wolobah and express our condolences to the family," said a Paqui spokesperson during an interview with a local news affiliate of CBS. "While the Paqui One Chip Challenge is intended for adults only, we have seen an increase in teen usage of the product. We care about all of our consumers and have made the decision to remove the product from shelves. The product's label clearly states it is not for children or anyone sensitive to spicy foods or who has food allergies, is pregnant, or has underlying health conditions. We are actively working with our retailers and are offering refunds for any purchases of our single-serve one-chip challenge product."

Although Paqui's website and packaging clearly outline the dangers of consuming the hot tortilla chip, the company has decided to pull the popular product in the wake of Harris Wolobah's death. The move comes after the Wolobah family advocated for Paqui to take action by remvoing the snack from the shelves of their business partners nationwide.

Source: Eater