SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — A Sioux City school has issued a statement regarding the popular “One Chip Challenge” and the potential risks that come with it after the district said one student partook in the trend.

The school said that ingredient’s in this year’s version of the ‘One Chip’ are harsher than that of previous years and can cause some students to become seriously ill, experience breathing problems, or lose control of certain bodily functions after eating just a small part of the chip. They said that the chip can also cause skin irritation upon contact.

The Sioux City Community School District said that one student was impacted by the challenge. They warn that the trend is like many others in that it often puts students at risk. Read the district’s full statement below.

“The District has received one report of students being impacted by the TikTok trend “The One Chip Challenge.” Unfortunately, this trend, like so many others, often puts the health and safety of our students at risk. To keep our students safe, we are asking for our families’ help in ensuring students do not bring these types of chips to school. We also encourage parents to speak with their students about the dangers of trends like this one.”

Sioux City Community School District spokesperson

Liberty Elementary cautioned families on Facebook about Paqui’s “One Chip Challenge” after the challenge has grown to fame on TikTok.

The school said that the chips will not be allowed on school grounds and is asking parents to continue to be vigilant in monitoring what their children bring to class. The district also encouraged parents to speak to their children about the dangers of certain trends.

Tonja Winekauf, ARNP at a local medicinal center for MercyOne stated that most individuals will experience irritation immediately when it comes in contact with the body including but not limited to the mouth and throat. The irritation can last for several hours up to several days.

Winekauf added that risks for adults can be similar for children, including difficulty breathing, fainting, prolonged nausea and vomiting, severe headaches, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, cerebral vasoconstriction, and chest pains.

MercyOne is aware of the challenge and they advised that anyone who is experiencing concerning symptoms should seek guidance from Poison Control immediately by visiting the Poison Control website or by calling 1-800-222-1222. Individuals should also proceed to the nearest emergency department if the symptoms are alarming.

UnityPoint also released the following statement:

At UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s, the health and well-being of our community is our top priority. We have become aware of a social media challenge involving eating a spicy tortilla chip. Due to the ingredients, consumption of this product may cause gastritis, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and esophageal damage. Parents and caregivers should talk to their children about the potential risks of consuming this product and participating in challenges such as this.

Spokesperson for UnityPoint – St. Luke’s

According to an article from Poison Control, the Paqui One Chip Challenge is a social media challenge that is promoted by the chip’s manufacturer Paqui. The challenge involves eating one spicy tortilla chip and then waiting as long as possible before eating or drinking anything else.

According to Paqui, the seasoning includes two of the hottest peppers; the Carolina Reaper Pepper which has a Scoville rating of 1.7 million Scoville Units, and the Scorpion Pepper which is rated at 1.2 Scoville Units. However, Poison Control notes that the Carolina Reaper Pepper contains up to 2.2 million Scoville Heat Units, and Scorpion peppers can reach 2 million Scoville Heat Units.

What makes the peppers so hot is the presence of Capsaicin which is a naturally occurring compound that’s active in chili peppers. Capsaicin activates the pain signals in the human body which causes the spicy sensation. Everyone’s sensation of taste is different, so the challenge results will vary from person to person.

The 2022 One Chip Challenge has different ingredients than previous years. Paqui lists the ingredients as Blue Corn, sunflower or safflower oil, Carolina Reaper Pepper, Scorpion Chile Pepper, sea salt, and Blue 1.

Poison Control’s article states that the challenge can cause intestinal discomfort along with more serious health problems, including chest pain, heart palpitations, and even heart attacks. Large amounts of capsaicin can cause repeated vomiting which has the potential to lead to life-threatening damage to the esophagus.

Poison Control lists milk as the most effective irritant relief after partaking in the One Chip Challenge, and recommended washing your hands thoroughly with water and soap after touching the chip because capsaicin can transfer from your fingers to your face, eyes, and other parts of the body.