MN Middle Schoolers Require Ambulance After Attempting Spicy 'One Chip Challenge'

EDINA, MN — Several middle school students in Edina fell ill after eating an extremely spicy chip at school last week.

The South View Middle School students had attempted Paqui’s “One Chip Challenge,” which involves eating a single chip seasoned with Carolina Reaper and scorpion peppers. The chip also turns the tongue of anyone who eats it blue.

An ambulance was called to the school after several students said they were having trouble breathing, while others suffered eye pain due to chip dust exposure, according to a message sent Thursday to families from the school district that also circulated on social media. Healthcare providers determined none of the students were experiencing severe allergic reactions, illnesses or injuries, the district said, adding no one had to be moved off-campus for treatment

The student who brought the chips to school has been disciplined, according to the district.

“Please speak with your children about the dangers of participating in this and other potentially harmful internet challenges,” the district said in the message. “Attempting these challenges at school is unsafe and disruptive to student learning. Students who attempt such challenges at school will be disciplined according to district policy.”

The Paqui-brand chip used in the challenge is individually packaged, widely available at gas stations and convenience stores, and “made with the hottest peppers on the planet,” according to Paqui’s website. Videos on social media show people who attempt the challenge coughing, retching, screaming, crying and rapidly consuming dairy. Under some chip challenge videos on TikTok a warning cautions that “participating in this activity could result in you or others getting hurt.”

Hennepin Healthcare has had 39 emergency room visits in the last two years related to the challenge, mostly involving children ages 10 to 16, according to the Star Tribune.