Viral challenges involving the consumption of extremely spicy foods, known as pepper challenges, represent a genuine threat to young people’s health, according to warnings issued by France's food safety agencies. These games, which attract an increasingly younger audience, turn an ordinary culinary ingredient into a medical risk instrument, endangering participants by exposing them to capsaicin concentrations far exceeding safe consumption levels. [1]
Capsaicin, the active compound in peppers that provides pungency, acts on TRPV1 nerve receptors, transmitting a burning signal to the brain even if the actual temperature does not rise. Normally, moderate consumption is tolerated, but the massive quantities needed to continue the challenges can cause intense pain throughout the gastrointestinal tract, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in severe cases, drops in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. Contact with skin or eyes can cause severe irritation, and capsaicin sprays, often used in these challenges, can lead to respiratory disorders. [1]
One of the best-known examples is the 'One-Chip Challenge,' which requires participants to eat one extremely spicy chip and endure it for as long as possible without drinking water or eating, filming their suffering. In 2023, a 14-year-old American boy died after participating in such a challenge. The product contained Carolina Reaper extract, one of the hottest peppers in the world, reaching over two million Scoville units. For comparison, classic Tabasco sauce has between 2,500 and 5,000 Scoville units. [1]
Data from France’s Poison Control Center show that between 2021 and 2025, there were 124 poisonings related to the consumption of very spicy foods. The average age of those affected was 18 years, and one third of them were adolescents aged 10 to 15. Symptoms primarily included digestive and mouth pain, irritations, and vomiting. Although most cases were benign, a 28-year-old woman developed Quincke's edema (rapid swelling of the face and throat) after a pepper challenge and had to go to the emergency room. [1]
Health authorities recommend avoiding these challenges, especially among adolescents, and keeping very spicy products out of children’s reach. In the absence of specific regulations regarding capsaicin in the European Union, health agencies urge caution: labels such as “ultra-hot,” “super spicy,” or “extreme” should raise alarms. Wearing gloves when handling strong peppers is recommended, and consumers are encouraged not to attempt such tests of physical endurance. [1]
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