Massachusetts teenager who died after taking part in spicy chip challenge also had a congenital heart defect, autopsy finds

A Massachusetts teenager who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge circulating on social media died from eating a large amount of chili pepper extract and also had a congenital heart defect, according to an autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press.

Harris Walloba, 14, of Worcester Township, died on September 1, 2023, after eating a chip made by Paqui.

The cause of death was listed as cardiopulmonary arrest “in the context of recent ingestion of a food substance with a high concentration of capsaicin,” according to the autopsy by the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office.

Packy pulled the product from store shelves soon after Harris’ death.

The Associated Press sent an email seeking comment Thursday to Hershey Co, which owns Paqui.

The cause of death was determined on Feb. 27 and the death certificate was provided to the city clerk on March 5, according to Elaine Driscoll, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Public Safety and Security Executive.

The Paqui chip, sold separately for about US$10 (S$15), was wrapped in foil in a coffin-shaped box bearing the warning that it was intended for the “vengeful pleasure of intense heat and pain”.

The warning notes that the chip is for adult consumption only and should be kept away from children.

Despite the warning, the children had no problem buying the chips.

There have been reports from across the US of teenagers falling ill after taking part in the chip-eating challenge, including three high school students in California who were sent to hospital.

Paramedics were called to a Minnesota school in 2022 when seven students became ill after participating in the challenge.