THE ESSENTIAL
- The ingredient that creates the “heat” is called capsaicin. It can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
- The product used in the challenge is not sold in France but it is possible to find and purchase it online.
In recent weeks, a recent food challenge popularized on Tiktok has parents worried. It’s called “#OneChipChallenge“. This trend was launched in 2016 by the Paqui brand to promote its new product, called “Carolina Reader”, a very spicy crisp, according to our colleagues from 20 Minutes. The principle of the challenge is simple. Internet users must eat this food and take the longest time without drinking or swallowing anything. The goal ? Have a blue tongue and be able to say that you are “invincible” if the wait exceeds an hour.
One Chip Challenge: what are the consequences of this trend?
According to several health professionals, meeting this challenge is not without risks. For proof: a user, named “angela_b157”, reported that she suffered from terrible abdominal pain, in a video published on the platform. After completing the challenge, she was admitted and treated at the hospital. In the United States, other teenagers and young adults have suffered convulsions and faintness following ingesting this spicy chip.
“The ingredient that makes these peppers so hot is the same ingredient found in pepper sprays. If it comes into contact with the eyes or nose, it can cause a burning sensation. When is ingested, it can also do so in the mouth but also the throat, esophagus, stomach, lower gastrointestinal tract (…) Worse, if accidentally inhaled, it might cause bronchospasm, be an asthma trigger or, at a minimum, lead to a severe cough”, explained, to the American media Todaypediatrician Brett Christiansen.
A warning to prevent incidents caused by the Tiktok challenge
Faced with numerous incidents, the brand that marketed the spicy chips warned that the product should not be ingested “if you are sensitive to spicy foods, if you are allergic to peppers, nightshades or capsaicin, if you are pregnant or if you have any medical conditions”.
