The One Chip Challenge was a social media challenge where participants ate one extremely spicy tortilla chip made with some of the hottest peppers in the world, including the Carolina Reaper and Naga Viper peppers. The challenge required eating the single chip and then avoiding eating or drinking anything afterward for as long as possible, with participants often sharing their reactions online
. The chip was packaged in a coffin-shaped box and contained very high levels of capsaicin, the compound that causes the intense heat sensation. The Carolina Reaper pepper used in the chip rates about 1.7 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU), far hotter than common peppers like jalapeños
. The challenge was promoted by Paqui, a tortilla chip brand owned by The Hershey Company, and became popular from 2016 until it was discontinued in 2023
. The challenge gained notoriety for causing extreme discomfort, with symptoms such as mouth and throat pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and in some cases, more serious health issues like heart palpitations and breathing difficulties
. It was not recommended for children, teenagers, pregnant women, or people with health conditions
. The One Chip Challenge was discontinued after a tragic incident in September 2023 when a 14-year-old boy named Harris Wolobah died hours after taking the challenge. An autopsy revealed he died from cardiopulmonary arrest related to ingesting a high capsaicin substance and had an underlying congenital heart defect
. Following this, Paqui withdrew the product from sale and stopped all promotion of the challenge
. In summary, the One Chip Challenge was a viral internet stunt involving eating a single extremely spicy chip and enduring the heat without relief, but it posed significant health risks and was ultimately discontinued after a fatality linked to the challenge
