Dear Parents and Guardians,

We’d like to let you know about the dangers of the newest social media craze known as the “One Chip Challenge.”  The challenge involves a person eating one extremely spicy tortilla chip made from some of the hottest peppers in the world. These peppers include the Carolina Reaper, Scorpion and/or Ghost peppers, which are ingredients also found in pepper spray.

The challenge can cause serious side effects including severe coughing, asthma, serious burning of the eyes and mouth and vomiting, according to health officials. The chip also causes the tongue to turn blue.

The tortilla chip is manufactured by a company called PAQUI and is available in stores and online. The chips do have a warning label that reads “keep out of reach of children.” The packaging comes in a coffin shaped box and looks like this:

We have had at least three students in our schools who have had to see the nurse as a result of eating just a portion of one chip.  

We are aware that many social media trends and challenges may be fun, but some, such as this one may also be dangerous.  There have been hospitalizations from eating this chip in other communities and we encourage you to talk to your children about the risks participating in such a challenge.

Sincerely, 

Dr. David Richards, Superintendent of Schools