Get ready to feel the burn! Students in Japan faced a fiery ordeal after daring to try a ‘super spicy’ chip that sent them straight to the hospital.
Produced by Isoyama Corp, these not-your-average chips carry a serious heat warning, targeting thrill-seekers with a penchant for pain. The snack in question? The notorious ‘R 18+ curry chips’ which comes with a bold advisory to ‘eat with caution’.
Despite the red flags plastered all over the packaging, including a strict recommendation against consumption by under-18s, around 30 students from a Tokyo high school decided to take the fiery plunge. Their spicy adventure, however, quickly turned sour.
These chips don’t mess around. The company even suggests not eating them solo and explicitly bars anyone with digestive issues from trying them, labeling their consumption as ‘absolutely prohibited’ for such individuals.
But that didn’t stop one student from bringing a pack to school, sparking a spicy challenge that was supposedly ‘just for fun’. Unfortunately, the fun didn’t last long.
Shortly after indulging, several students reported feeling nauseous with painful sensations around their mouths. The situation escalated quickly, leading to the involvement of emergency services.
Ultimately, thirteen girls and one boy needed medical attention for minor symptoms. In response, Isoyama Corp issued an apology, expressing hopes for a speedy recovery for those affected.
The culprit behind this intense experience? The Ghost Pepper, also known as bhut jolokia. This pepper, native to Northeast India, is infamous for its scorching heat and has been a staple in spicing up dishes and even warding off pesky elephants from crops without causing harm.
In the past, this pepper has even been militarized into ‘chilli grenades’, resembling the effects of pepper spray or tear gas.
Back in 2007, the bhut jolokia entered the Guinness World Records as the world’s hottest chilli pepper, boasting over a million Scoville Heat Units. Although since dethroned by the Carolina Reaper and, more recently, Pepper X, its legendary status still lingers.
As the saga of the spicy chip incident unfolds, UNILAD has reached out to Isoyama Corp for additional comments.