A tortilla chip maker91裸聊视频檚 decision to pull its extremely spicy product sold as a 91裸聊视频淥ne Chip Challenge91裸聊视频� from store shelves following the has renewed attention on the popularity 91裸聊视频� and risks 91裸聊视频� of similar dares marketed by brands and spread widely online.
Spicy food challenges have been around for years. From local chile pepper eating contests to restaurant walls of fame for those who finished extra hot dishes, people around the world have been daring each other to eat especially fiery foods, with some experts pointing to the internal rush of competition and risk-taking.
But extremely spicy products created and marketed solely for the challenges 91裸聊视频� and possible internet fame 91裸聊视频� is a more recent phenomenon, and teens are particularly exposed to them because of social media, associate professor of psychology at Florida International University Elisa Trucco says.
There91裸聊视频檚 a 91裸聊视频済lamorization of these challenges on social media,91裸聊视频� Trucco said. 91裸聊视频淵ou see a lot of 91裸聊视频榣ikes91裸聊视频� or comments (indicating) social status or popularity from these challenges, but you don91裸聊视频檛 see a lot of the negative consequences 91裸聊视频� like the trips to the E.R. or other injuries.91裸聊视频�
Alexander DePaoli, an associate teaching professor of marketing at Northeastern University, added that people may put themselves through discomfort and share it online for a sense of 91裸聊视频渋n-group belonging,91裸聊视频� similar to offline challenges as a game of truth or dare.
A YouTube series called 91裸聊视频淗ot Ones,91裸聊视频� for example, rose to internet fame several years ago with videos of celebrities91裸聊视频� reactions to eating spicy wings. Meanwhile, restaurants nationwide continue to offer in-person challenges 91裸聊视频� from Buffalo Wild Wings91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淏lazin91裸聊视频� Challenge91裸聊视频� to the 91裸聊视频淗ell Challenge91裸聊视频� of Wing King in Las Vegas. In both challenges, patrons over 18 can attempt to eat a certain amount of wings doused in extra hot sauce in limited time without drinking or eating other food.
Chile pepper eating contests are also regularly hosted around the world. Last year, Gregory Foster ate 10 Carolina Reaper chillies, which Guinness World Records has named the hottest in the world, at a record time of 33.15 seconds in San Diego, California.
In most cases, people will choose to participate in challenges that they are trained for or don91裸聊视频檛 consider to be truly dangerous. But a line is crossed when someone gets hurt, DePaoli noted.
While for 10th-grader Harris Wolobah are still pending, the teen91裸聊视频檚 family allege that the One Chip Challenge is responsible for his Sept. 1 death. The product, manufactured by Paqui, instructs participants to eat an eponymously named chip and then see how long they can go without consuming other food and water.
Sales of the chip seem largely driven by people posting videos on social media of them or their friends taking the challenge. They show people, including teens and children, eating the chips and then reacting to the heat. Some videos show people gagging, coughing and begging for water.
Since Wolobah91裸聊视频檚 death, Paqui has asked retailers to stop selling the product and some health experts have pointed to potential dangers of eating such spicy products under certain circumstances, particularly depending on the amount of capsaicin, a component that gives chile peppers their heat.
But there are plenty of similar products that remain online and on store shelves, including Red Hot Reaper91裸聊视频檚 One Chip Challenge, Blazing Foods91裸聊视频� Death Nut Challenge and Tube of Terror Challenge as well as Wilder Toys91裸聊视频� Hot Ones Truth or Dab sauce game. The Associated Press reached out to each company after Paqui pulled its own product, but did not receive a response.
DePaoli said it91裸聊视频檚 not unusual for companies to engage in viral marketing.
91裸聊视频淚t is unusual, however, to have something where the brand actually wants you to put something into your body,91裸聊视频� he said. Companies 91裸聊视频渄on91裸聊视频檛 want to be liable for that.91裸聊视频�
Despite warnings or labels specifying adult-use only, the products can still get into the hands of young people who might not understand the risks, Trucco added.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a reason why these challenges are appealing,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭his type of marketing sells.91裸聊视频�
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