'Super spicy' crisps land Japanese students in hospital

Fourteen high school students in Tokyo were hospitalized after consuming extremely spicy potato chips, according to police reports. Around 30 students had eaten the fiery snacks after one of them brought the chips to school. Shortly after, some students began to experience nausea and severe pain around their mouths, prompting emergency calls to the fire department and police. The 13 girls and one boy who were taken to the hospital were conscious and only had minor symptoms. Isoyama Corp, the company that manufactures the snack, issued a statement apologizing for any inconvenience caused and wished the students a speedy recovery. Neither the school nor the company has responded to the BBC's inquiries. The company's website is filled with warnings for those who might want to try the chips. It explicitly states that individuals under 18 should not consume the chips due to their extreme spiciness. Even those who enjoy hot food are advised to eat with caution. The chips are so spicy that they can cause pain, according to the company. The intense heat comes from the ghost pepper, a potent chili grown in northeastern India, known as bhut jolokia. This pepper is one of the hottest in the world. The Japanese firm advises against eating the chips alone and warns that excessive consumption could lead to diarrhea. People with high blood pressure and weak stomachs are strictly prohibited from eating the chips. The company also cautions individuals with cuts on their fingers to be careful when opening the packets. Those who are timid or easily scared are also discouraged from trying the snack. One media report mentioned that a boy brought the chips to school just for fun. In response to the news of the hospitalizations, some users on social media posted messages to demonstrate how hot the chips were, while others shared videos of their agonizing experiences eating them. One user described the experience as painful and compared it to having urinary stones. Elon Musk also commented on the situation, stating that the chips must be extremely spicy.