Killed by the spicy chip challenge: Autopsy reveals too much chili extract was what led to Massachusetts' teen's death

A teenage who died after a spicy tortilla chip challenge was killed by consuming too large a quantity of chili pepper extract as well as having a congenital heart defect.

Harris Wolobah, who was in tenth grade, died at the start of the school year after eating the chip from Paqui, which later pulled the product from shelves. 

In a note from the Chief Office of the Medical Examiner in the city of Worcester, Wolobah's cause of death is listed as a cardiopulmonary arrest (i.e. a heart attack) 'in the setting of recent ingestion of food substance with high capsaicin concentration.'

Capsaicin is what gives chili peppers their often extreme heat.

Harris Wolobah, 14, died hours after eating a spicy tortilla chip as part of the 'One Chip Challenge,' a social media trend that has gained billions of views on TikTok. The Massachusetts teen was a talented athlete described by family as 'a light that lit up the room'

The 2023 edition of the 'One Chip Challenges' features a tortilla chip flavored with two of the spiciest peppers possible, the California Reaper Pepper and the Naga Viper Pepper. The California Reaper is ranked as the world's spiciest pepper

The autopsy also said that the teen had cardiomegaly - an enlarged heart - as well as a congenital defect described as 'myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending coronary artery.'

The defect is described as having an artery that runs through the heart's muscle instead of lying on the surface of the heart.

Paqui, which is owned by the Hershey company, pulled the chips from stores following Wolobah's untimely passing, but had previously been selling them for about $10 each.

The black, reaper pepper chip came wrapped in foil in a coffin-shaped box that contained a warning about the seriousness of the chip's 'heat and pain.'

Despite the warning that the chip was not for children, youth consumers had no issue getting their hands on the product.

Other teenagers around the country had reportedly become ill after consuming the chip as well, including three California teens who were taken to a hospital.

The black chip of death came dusted in Carolina Reaper pepper and Naga Viper pepper and became part of the 'One Chip Challenge,' which went viral on social media.

The challenge, which many young participants recorded themselves doing and posting the videos online, entails eating the singular Paqui chip and then going as long as possible before eating or drinking anything afterwards.

Social media personalities across the internet tried the challenge, but others criticized the trend for it's obviously negative health effects. 

Lois Wobolah, Harris's mother, shared a picture of her late son. She's said she hopes no other family feels the pain of the loss she's experienced

Paqui has been promoting the one chip challenge since 2016

Paqui, the chip's manufacturer, encouraged people to test their physical limits. Those who can sustain the burning pain for up to an hour without food or drink earn the title of 'Apex Predator'

The brand, which is now owned by the Hershey Company, issued an extensive warning on the coffin-shaped packaging

Prior to his death, Harris (center right) was a young and vital basketball player

onathan Slavinskas, left, prays with the family of Harris Wolobah, including mother Lois and father Amos Wolobah, right, during a vigil in Newton Square Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 in Worcester, Mass

On September 1 of last year, the boy's mother was called to his school when Harris complained of a stomach ache. He'd eaten the spicy chip after it was given to him by a classmate.

The young teen felt better after going home but he passed out at 4.30pm when he was about to leave for basketball tryouts.

Speaking with the Worcester Telegram, police Lt. Sean Murtha said the boy was unresponsive and not breathing. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.

Harris's mother, Lois Wolobah, told a local television station last year that ahead of his death, her son had been a healthy basketball player with no known allergies.

'I hope, I pray to God that no parents will go through what I'm going through,' she said. 

'I don't want to see anybody hurting the way I'm hurting. I miss my son so much. I miss him so much.' 

In October 2022, a school district in Lafayette, Louisiana, banned the chips from all campuses after multiple students needed medical attention.

Less than one month later, paramedics were called to a high school in Dunwood, Georgia, prompting police to issue a warning about the snack.