Spicy Chip Caused MA Teen's Death, Autopsy Shows

WORCESTER, MA — A medical examiner has confirmed that Worcester teenager Harris Wolobah died due to consuming a substance “with a high capsaicin concentration,” according to the Associated Press.

Wolobah's family had said the 14-year-old died after eating a single Paqui chip as part of the viral "one-chip challenge." Paqui ended its promotion of the challenge days after Woloboah's death.

Wolobah, a Doherty High School student, died Sept. 1. The autopsy concluded he died due to cardiopulmonary arrest “in the setting of recent ingestion of food substance with high capsaicin concentration.”

According to medical toxicologist Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, consuming high levels of capsaicin — the compound that causes the spice taste and other reactions — can cause serious health problems. Capsaicin is also the compound used to make pepper spray, tear gas and bear spray.

"Capsaicin consumption can also cause more serious health problems including chest pain, heart palpitations, and even heart attacks. Consumption of larger amounts of capsaicin can also cause repeated vomiting that can lead to life-threatening esophageal damage. Because of this, people should use caution when consuming foods or products that contain capsaicin," she wrote in an article about the Paqui challenge on the website Poison.org.

The Associated Press contributed material to this report