Spicy Chips Hospitalize High School Students in TokyoSpicy Chips Hospitalize High School Students in Tokyo Fourteen high school students in Tokyo were admitted to the hospital on Tuesday after consuming “ultra-spicy” chips, according to police reports. Local media outlets claim that about 30 students ate the chips after one student brought them to school. Shortly after, several students began experiencing nausea and intense pain around their mouths, prompting them to contact the fire department and police. The 13 girls and one boy taken to the hospital were reported to be conscious and exhibiting mild symptoms. The chip manufacturer, Isoyama Corp., issued an apology for the “inconvenience” caused to its customers and wished them a swift recovery. The company’s official website contains numerous warnings for individuals considering consuming the chips. It explicitly “bans” anyone under the age of 18 from eating the chips, known as “R 18+ curry chips,” due to their extreme spiciness. They also caution even those who enjoy spicy food to “proceed with caution,” emphasizing that the chips are “so spicy they can cause pain.” The spiciness of the chips is attributed to the use of the potent “ghost pepper” grown in northeastern India, where it is known as bhut jolokia. Despite its use in culinary preparations in various regions, the ghost pepper is recognized as one of the world’s hottest chili peppers. Isoyama Corp. advises against consuming the chips alone and warns that excessive consumption may result in diarrhea. Individuals with high blood pressure or sensitive stomachs are strongly advised to avoid the chips altogether. The company also cautions people with cuts on their fingers to handle the packaging with care. Additionally, the company recommends that individuals who are “too scared or shy” should not attempt to consume the chips. According to a media report, the student who introduced the chips to school had done so “just for fun.” Following news of the hospitalizations, some Twitter users posted a “spicy meter” to illustrate the extreme heat of the chips, while others shared videos of their distressing experiences after consuming them. Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, also commented, stating, “They must be really spicy!”
Image source, Isoyama Corp
Image caption, The company that makes the chips “prohibits” them from being eaten by anyone under the age of 18 Article information
- Author, Shaimaa Khalil
- Role, Correspondent in Tokyo
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10 minutes ago
Fourteen high school students in Tokyo were rushed to hospital on Tuesday after eating “super spicy” chips, police said.
According to local media, about 30 students ate the chips after one of them brought them to school.
Soon some of them started complaining of nausea and severe pain around their mouths, so they called the fire department and the police.
The 13 girls and one boy taken to hospital were conscious and reportedly showing mild symptoms.
The company that makes the chips, Isoyama Corp., has apologized for the “inconvenience” caused to customers and wished them a speedy recovery.
The official website is full of warnings for those who want to try the chips.
It “bans” under-18s from eating the chips, dubbed “R 18+ curry chips”, because of how spicy they are – and even warns those who like spicy food to “eat with caution”. The chips are “so spicy they can cause pain”, it says.
The spiciness comes from the powerful “ghost pepper” grown in northeastern India, where it is known as bhut jolokia. Although it is used in recipes in India and elsewhere, it is known as one of the hottest chili peppers in the world.
The Japanese company advises people not to eat the chips alone, saying they can cause diarrhea if eaten “too many.”
People with high blood pressure and a weak stomach “should absolutely not” eat the chips, the company’s website says. It warns people with cuts on their fingers to be careful when opening the packages.
People who are “too scared or shy” are also advised not to try the chips.
According to a media report, one of the students, a boy, had brought the chips to school “just for fun”.
In response to news of the hospitalizations, some X users posted a “spicy meter” to show how spicy the chips were, while others shared videos of their painful experiences eating them.
In one video, a user who appeared to be wincing described it as “painful” and said it reminded him of the time he suffered from urinary stones.
Owner Elon Musk also weighed in, saying, “They must be really spicy!”
