Fourteen high school students in Tokyo, Japan, were hospitalized after eating extremely spicy potato chips infused with Bhut Jolokia peppers.
The Incident
On July 16, around 12:40 pm, an emergency call was made after several first-year students at Rokugo Koka High School in Tokyo’s Ota Ward started complaining of severe symptoms. This news was covered by Toyko Today.
The students, thirteen girls and one boy, were among 33 students who shared a bag of super-spicy potato chips infused with Bhut Jolokia peppers.
The Bhut Jolokia pepper, commonly known as the ghost pepper, was once recognized as the world’s hottest pepper by the Guinness Book of World Records.
The students experienced stomach aches, nausea, and mouth pain. Some even collapsed in the school infirmary due to the intense discomfort. They were treated for their mild symptoms at the emergency room and released later that day.
This incident serves as a cautionary tale for young students considering trying extremely spicy snacks.
The Spicy Chips
The ghost pepper-infused chips are produced by Isoyama Corp, based in Japan’s Ibaraki Prefecture.
The product is labeled as “18+ curry chips” and carries a clear warning on the company’s website: “People with high blood pressure or a weak stomach should never eat them,” and “eating too much can cause an upset stomach, so share it with a friend.”
In a press release, Isoyama Corp apologized for the inconvenience and wished the students a speedy recovery. They emphasized that their Bhut Jolokia-infused chips are not meant for anyone under the age of 18, as ghost peppers are approximately 200 times hotter than Tabasco sauce.
It remains unclear how the students obtained the chips.
For an even hotter experience, Isoyama Corp offers Carolina Reaper-infused tortilla chips, which are so intensely spicy that they are sold individually.
