Dad and mom ought to focus on ‘One Chip Problem’ with their kids, Worcester DA says after teen’s demise

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“We urge mother and father to debate this with their kids and advise them to not partake on this exercise,” Joseph Early Jr. wrote on Fb Wednesday.

Within the wake of 14-year-old Harris Wolobah’s demise, following his participation within the “One Chip Problem,” Worcester County District Lawyer Joseph Early Jr. is recommending mother and father focus on the viral problem with their kids.

On Friday, the Worcester sophomore ate the extraordinarily spicy Paqui Chips product at Doherty Memorial Excessive College and felt sick. He was despatched dwelling from college, and hours later, he fainted and died.

Whereas the trigger and method of Harris’ demise has not but been confirmed by means of post-mortem, his household believes he died of well being “problems” from consuming the chip.

“Whereas the investigation into the reason for {the teenager}’s demise in Worcester continues, the Worcester County District Lawyer’s Workplace want to remind mother and father to analysis and focus on along with your kids in regards to the one-chip problem,” Early wrote on Fb Wednesday.

The tortilla chip — which is made with among the hottest peppers on this planet — is a part of a Paqui Chips promotion referred to as the “One Chip Problem.” The problem dares members to eat the chip and see how lengthy they will go with out consuming or consuming.

Individuals are inspired to movie their expertise and put up it on social media — a apply which has turn into standard on TikTok in recent times. Final yr when the problem skilled a resurgence, colleges throughout the nation reported sending college students to the hospital after they ate the chip.

“We urge mother and father to debate this with their kids and advise them to not partake on this exercise,” Early wrote.

Early highlighted the truth that the chip is comprised of two of the most popular peppers on this planet — the Carolina Reaper and the Naga Viper. The chemical that makes them sizzling is named capsaicin, and in massive quantities, the Nationwide Capital Poison Middle warns, it might trigger critical well being issues.

Capsaicin is measured in Scoville Warmth Models, or SHUs, the place as much as 2,000 SHUs is taken into account delicate, and 1.5 million SHUs is taken into account extraordinarily sizzling. Whereas the chip itself doesn’t have a Scoville ranking, each peppers comprise among the highest quantities of capsaicin of any pepper at the moment in the marketplace. Naga Vipers measure 1.4 million SHUs and Carolina Reapers measure 1.7 SHUs.

Early additionally identified that Paqui Chips warns towards consuming the chip if you’re a minor, are allergic to peppers or capsaicin, or have any well being issues. Notably, Harris’ mother and father have mentioned he had no pre-existing circumstances or allergy symptoms. Moreover, there’s nothing stopping minors from shopping for the chips.

On Wednesday, for the primary time since Harris’ demise, the Hershey Firm, whose subsidiary owns Paqui Chips, commented on the teenager’s demise.

“We’re deeply saddened by the information report and specific our condolences to the household,” the corporate mentioned in a press release. “It will be inappropriate for us to invest or remark additional.”