Social Media's Burning Trend: The Health Effects of Spicy Food Challenges
The trend of videos showing people eating extremely spicy foods was popularized by the US talk-show format “Hot Ones” and gradually spread worldwide, particularly in France and among adolescents. Noticing this interest, some manufacturers began launching extremely spicy sauce and chip ranges specifically to take part in the trend.
Although it may initially seem like a harmless “challenge,” consumption of these products has been linked to food poisoning cases, including some resulting in the patient's death, prompting health authorities to issue warnings.
Capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) is a compound occurring naturally in chili peppers (Capsicum species) that creates the characteristic burning sensation. Capsaicin content varies greatly between pepper varieties; this intensity is measured in the Wilbur Scoville scale developed by that pharmacologist at Parke-Davis in 1912, using Scoville heat units (SHU) .
Capsaicin activates specific receptors in the nervous system, sending the brain a signal that “the temperature has changed”; a burning sensation occurs without an actual temperature increase in the mouth. At higher doses, this effect can become real pain in the digestive tract.
- The burning sensation can spread from the mouth to the esophagus and stomach; it may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea , and burning/irritation during defecation.
- In more serious cases, systemic symptoms (affecting the whole body) such as high blood pressure, palpitations, and loss of consciousness may occur.
- Exposure does not occur only through swallowing: skin contact can cause redness, while eye contact can cause irritation, excessive tearing, eyelid spasm , or keratitis (inflammation of the cornea).
In 2023, a 14-year-old adolescent in the United States with a mild structural heart abnormality died after eating an extremely spicy potato chip due to cardiopulmonary arrest (cardiac and respiratory arrest). In this trend, known as “One Chip Challenge,” participants tried to last as long as possible without eating or drinking anything after consuming an extremely spicy chip, while recording their reactions.
One of the peppers used in the chip was the 1,8-2,2 million SHU -intensity Carolina Reaper , considered one of the world's hottest peppers. For comparison, according to ANSES, an ordinary Tabasco sauce measures only approximately 2500-5000 SHU .
- Between 2021-2025 in France, 124 people who developed symptoms after eating spicy foods or meals contacted a poison control center.
- Of these, 39% (more than one-third) became unwell while participating in a challenge.
- In 34 cases, multiple people were affected simultaneously; two involved groups of 12 and 10 middle school students.
- Of challenge participants, 65% were adolescents aged 10-15.
- In 83% of cases, spicy chips were used; the remainder involved chili peppers alone or products such as Tabasco sauce, chili oil, harissa, Sriracha, spicy ketchup, or green curry.
| Symptom | Frequency (among those receiving medical help) |
|---|---|
| Epigastric (upper abdominal) pain | %35 |
| Oropharyngeal (mouth and throat) pain | %20 |
| Abdominal pain | %17 |
| Mouth irritation | %17 |
| Vomiting | %10 |
Because a person could experience multiple symptoms, the percentages total more than 100%.
Most cases reported by ANSES were mild; only one was moderately serious. A 28-year-old woman with a history of allergies developed angioedema (sudden tissue swelling) affecting her face and throat, along with a dry cough, after eating a spicy potato chip as part of a challenge. Her symptoms subsided with antihistamine and corticosteroid treatment in the emergency department.
Following numerous EU alerts leading to recalls of products with extremely high capsaicin content or incorrect labeling, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is assessing the acute and chronic health risks of capsaicin consumption, focusing particularly on acute effects. This assessment is expected to be completed by the end of 2027 ; no regulatory measure has yet entered into force.
- Milk, yogurt, ice cream , or a small amount of cooking oil may help relieve the burning sensation. Bread, potatoes, and rice and other starchy foods may also provide some relief.
- Avoid water and carbonated drinks ; because capsaicin is not water-soluble, these drinks do not reduce the burning.
- If swelling or difficulty breathing develops, this may indicate a serious allergic reaction; seek emergency medical help without delay.
- If symptoms persist or worsen, contact a poison control center or seek medical help.
- The extremely spicy chips and sauces trend has also reached Türkiye through social media (TikTok, YouTube); however, systematically collected Türkiye-specific case data comparable to ANSES's are currently unavailable in public sources.
- If poisoning is suspected (including from spicy food), you can contact Alo 114 National Poison Consultation Center 7/24 for free advice.
- Carefully consider products labeled “super spicy,” “ultra hot,” or “extreme” before buying them, particularly for children and adolescents; it is safer for people with heart or digestive conditions to avoid these products entirely.
The clearest message from these data is that extremely spicy challenges are not “harmless games.” Particularly in the adolescent age group and children with known heart or digestive conditions , even a single extremely spicy product can lead to a serious situation. Parents are advised to discuss the risks of these trends with adolescents at home beforehand and to be cautious about products labeled “extreme”/“ultra hot.”
Social media food challenges spread through products made for marketing and entertainment, outside conventional food safety oversight. ANSES's analysis shows that beneath the appearance of “fun content,” this trend carries a real, measurable health risk.
It is based on five years of poison control center data; presents age groups, product types, and symptom distributions with specific proportions; addresses both mild and rare serious (allergic) cases; and offers directly applicable practical recommendations.
The data come only from people who contacted a poison control center; many mild cases that stayed outside the system, resolved spontaneously, or went unreported are probably not reflected in these figures. These France-specific data cannot be directly generalized to other countries. The fatal One Chip Challenge case was a separate event from the United States.
The main change is awareness: taking capsaicin warnings on product labels seriously, keeping extremely spicy products away particularly from children and adolescents, and recognizing the difference between “just a burning sensation” and “a real medical emergency” (swelling, shortness of breath, altered consciousness).
Will EFSA's risk assessment, expected to be completed in 2027, introduce a binding upper limit for capsaicin content? Will mandatory warning labeling for manufacturers be considered? Will social media platforms impose age restrictions on this challenge content, or no restrictions at all?
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). How Do You Measure the Heat of a Pepper?
CBS News Boston. Wrongful death lawsuit: One Chip Challenge — Harris Wolobah, Worcester. 2023.
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Ongoing risk assessment of capsaicin in food.
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