The family of a Massachusetts teenager who died last year has filed a lawsuit against Hershey Company subsidiary Paqui and Walgreens, alleging that his death stemmed from a social media contest involving the eating of a chip advertised to be intensely spicy.
In September 2023, 14-year-old Harris Wolobah in Worcester, Massachusetts, died after he participated in the “One Chip Challenge.”
Paqui manufactured the $10 chip, packaged in a coffin-shaped box, and Walgreens promoted the social media campaign in which people filmed themselves eating the chip, according to the complaint filed in the Suffolk County Superior Court on Thursday.
After eating the chip, Mr. Wolobah told his 10th-grade teacher he wasn’t feeling well, then lost consciousness.
“When we regained consciousness, he complained of severe pain in his stomach, and it appeared that he was confused,” the complaint said.
While being taken to the nurse’s office in a wheelchair, he was asked if he had consumed drugs or alcohol.
In response, he said, “No, it was the chip,” the complaint alleges.
At home, his condition worsened, and he eventually died, according to the lawsuit.
Pre-Existing Heart Condition
According to the lawsuit, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts concluded that Mr. Wolobah had a pre-existing heart condition called “cardiomegaly and myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending coronary artery” that might have been triggered by eating the chip.The chip was made with Carolina Reaper and Naga Viper Pepper, both touted as “the hottest peppers in the world,” the lawsuit said.
The peppers contain a high amount of capsaicin, the chemical compound that is the source of the spicy flavor, which is also used to make pepper spray, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit alleged that capsaicin ingestion can lead to several health problems such as stomach and chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, nausea, vomiting, and a heart attack.
Paqui’s Response
The Epoch Times contacted The Hershey Company, Paqui, and Walgreens for comment.In response, a Paqui spokesperson said the company disagrees with the allegations presented in the complaint.
“We were and remain deeply saddened by the death of Harris Wolobah and extend our condolences to his family and friends,” the spokesperson said. “Paqui’s One Chip Challenge was intended for adults only, with clear and prominent labeling highlighting that the product was not for children or anyone sensitive to spicy foods or has underlying health conditions.
“We saw increased reports of teens and other individuals not heeding these warnings,” the spokesperson said. "As a result, while the product adhered to food safety standards, out of an abundance of caution, we worked with retailers to voluntarily remove the product from shelves in September 2023 and discontinued the One Chip Challenge.”
