Fourteen high school students in Japan were rushed to hospital on Tuesday after consuming “super spicy” potato chips.
About 30 students ate the spicy snack, which was brought to school in Tokyo by one of their classmates, according to The Japanese newspaper Times.
The incident unfolded when several students began experiencing severe nausea and sharp pain around their mouths shortly after eating the chips, prompting immediate emergency calls to the fire department and police.
Among those affected, 13 girls and one boy were taken to hospital. Fortunately, all were conscious and apparently only had mild symptoms.
The snack in question, known as “R 18+ curry chips,” is produced by Isoyama Corp.
Fourteen high school students in Japan were rushed to hospital on Tuesday after consuming “super spicy” potato chips, called R 18+ curry chips.
The company issued a public statement and apologized for “any inconvenience” to customers, while expressing its wishes for a speedy recovery for the students.
Isoyama Corp’s website is plastered with warnings about the extreme spiciness of the chips, which are infused with ghost pepper, or bhut jolokia, one of the world’s hottest chili peppers, native to northeast India.
Other products containing extreme levels of spice listed on the website include: 18+ Curry Ramen, 18+ Chili Pepper, 18+ Chocolate, and 18+ Curry (Dangerous).
The website strictly recommends that anyone under the age of 18 not consume hot pepper products and warns even seasoned spice enthusiasts to approach with caution.
The company explicitly advises against eating the chips alone and warns of possible side effects such as diarrhea if consumed in excess.
People with high blood pressure, weak stomach or cuts on their fingers are strongly advised not to try this snack.
Isoyama Corp’s website warns about the intense spiciness of its products: “Do not eat under 18s!” is the slogan for the spicy series for those over 18. Recommended for those who like spicy food!
“However, because it is so spicy, do not eat it if you have high blood pressure, poor health or a weak stomach.”
Isoyama Corp’s website is plastered with warnings about the extreme spiciness of the chips, which are infused with ghost pepper.
In a video, shared by Japanese user @3xl_kuma, he tries a single potato chip, chewing it several times before quickly appearing to wince in pain.
Elon Musk, owner of X, also weighed in on the trendy snack
Reports suggest one student brought the chips to school “for fun” – unaware of the potential consequences.
This sparked a wave of reactions on social media, especially on TikTok, where users posted a “spiciness meter” to illustrate the intensity of the chips and shared videos of their own painful experiences consuming the product.
In one videoShared by Japanese user @3xl_kuma, he tries a single potato chip, chews it several times before quickly appearing to wince in pain as he clenches his fists while his eyes fill with tears and his skin turns red.
X owner Elon Musk also weighed in on the trendy snack when responding to a cheep Reporting the news about high school students, saying, ‘They must be next-level spicy!’
This comes as doctors warn that fans of a popular type of super-spicy ramen could be at risk of a kidney problem that can lead to blood poisoning, after a woman was sent to the emergency room after consuming a pot of Buldak ramen.
