Paramedics were called to a middle school in Edina, Minnesota, last week after students fell ill attempting the “One Chip Challenge,” FOX 9 reports.
The viral social medial challenge has participants film themselves eating an extremely spicy tortilla chip. The challenge has been floating around the internet for some time. This year, however, school districts around the country have reported students getting sick or going to the hospital after partaking in the challenge.
According to district officials in Edina, paramedics were called after several students complained of difficulty breathing. Other students complained of eye pain from being exposed to the chip dust.
Paramedics found no signs that the students had any severe allergic reaction or injuries. No student had to be transported to the hospital.
Also known as the “Paqui One Chip Challenge,” for the company behind the chip, the food item contains high amounts of capsaicin, a compound found naturally in chili peppers, according to the National Capital Poison Center.
Consuming capsaicin usually causes mouth and throat pain, but can result in heart attack and esophageal damage in rare cases, Poison Control reports. So far, no children have reported any life-threatening reactions after participating in the challenge.
Are you treating someone who participated in the challenge? Poison Control says the best way to get the burning to stop is to drink milk. If capsaicin gets in the eye, Poison Control recommends washing them out with room temperature water for up to 20 minutes.