Japan: Students hospitalized after eating ‘Super spicy’ crisps

Fourteen high school students in Tokyo were rushed to the hospital after eating “super spicy” potato chips on Tuesday, police reported.

Around 30 students tried the crisps after one student brought them to school, Japan media noted. Soon after, some began experiencing nausea and acute pain around their mouths, prompting emergency calls to the fire department and police.

The 13 girls and one boy who were hospitalized were conscious and reportedly had minor symptoms.

The company that makes the snack, Isoyama Corp, issued a statement apologizing for “any inconvenience” to customers and wishing the students a swift recovery.

Neither the school nor the company has responded to media inquiries so far.

The company’s website is filled with warnings for potential consumers. It “forbids” those under 18 from eating the crisps, named “R 18+ curry chips,” due to their extreme spiciness. Even those who enjoy hot food are cautioned to “eat with caution.” The crisps are described as “so spicy that they may cause you pain.”

The spiciness comes from the potent “ghost pepper,” cultivated in northeastern India and known as bhut jolokia. It is among the world’s hottest chilies.

The Japanese firm advises people not to “eat the chips when they are alone” and warns they could cause diarrhea if eaten “excessively.” Those with high blood pressure and weak stomachs are “absolutely prohibited” from eating the crisps. The company also advises caution for individuals with cuts on their fingers while opening the packets and discourages the “timid or too scared” from trying the snack.

One media report mentioned that one of the students, a boy, brought the crisps to school “just for fun.”

In response to the hospitalizations, some users on social media platform X posted a “spicy meter” to illustrate the heat level of the crisps, while others shared videos of their painful experiences eating them.

In one video, a user described the experience as “painful,” comparing it to having urinary stones. X owner Elon Musk commented, saying, “they must be next-level spicy!”