You’ve probably seen videos circulating on TikTok of people gasping, crying, and reaching for the nearest gallon of milk.
They’ve taken on the One Chip Challenge!
This challenge is the ultimate battle to face the world’s spiciest chip.
Here, I’ll explain everything that makes this challenge so popular on TikTok. But heads up, it’s not all fun and games – some people find this challenge a little too hot to handle!
What is the One Chip Challenge on TikTok?
Paqui, the maker of gourmet tortilla chips, created the One Chip Challenge.
The challenge involves eating a single tortilla chip infused with Carolina Reaper, currently known as the world’s spiciest pepper.
Participants of the challenge must eat this infamously spicy chip without any relief from water or milk and then try to remain unaffected for as long as possible while recording their reactions.
The participants’ reactions on TikTok vary from trying to maintain their composure to extreme discomfort from the spiciness of the chip.
These videos have garnered millions of views, likes, and comments, making the One Chip Challenge a viral sensation.
Consequently, this has increased demand for the infamous chips as more individuals are eager to try the challenge, share their reactions across social media, and gain recognition or a sense of accomplishment for completing the One Chip Challenge.
What is hotter than the One Chip Challenge?
While the One Chip Challenge carries a daunting reputation, it’s worth noting that other spicy food challenges or sauces could potentially surpass its heat.
These include items such as “Hot Ones The Last Dab Reduxx Hot Sauce,” rocking a staggering Scoville rating of over 2 million, and items like Pepper X and Dragon’s Breath chili peppers that reputedly claim Scoville ratings as high as 3 million and 2.48 million, respectively.
Compared to these sauces and peppers, the One Chip Challenge, with Carolina Reaper listed at an average of 1.5 million Scoville units, seems intimidating but not entirely unbeatable.
However, these numbers don’t necessarily signify a clear hierarchy of these challenges. The heat’s impact can drastically vary from person to person due to individual tolerance and the physical response to capsaicin, the compound responsible for the chili’s spiciness.
The One Chip Challenge Scoville Rating
The Scoville scale is a tool used to measure the pungency (spiciness) of peppers and other hot foods.
Developed by an American pharmacist, Wilbur Scoville, the scale gauges the concentration of capsaicin, the active component of chili peppers that produces a burning sensation when it interacts with your taste buds or skin.
Regarding the infamous One Chip Challenge, the heat intensity comes from the Carolina Reaper pepper. This pepper boasts an average Scoville Scale score of over 1.5 million, making it one of the spiciest peppers globally and setting a very high bar for heat in the One Chip Challenge.
What does the One Chip Challenge do to your body?
Eating the incredibly spicy chip from the One Chip Challenge can lead to a series of immediate and short-term reactions in your body due to the high levels of capsaicin.
- Immediate effects: Typical initial reactions include a burning sensation in your mouth, watering eyes, runny nose, intense sweating, and difficulty breathing. This discomfort comes from the capsaicinoids that activate the TRPV1 receptor, also known as the capsaicin receptor, which signals heat and inflammation.
- Short-term effects: After the initial shock, you may experience temporary hearing loss and an adrenaline rush as your body responds to the perceived threat of the heat. Your stomach may also feel the effects, which can possibly lead to nausea, vomiting, or even short-term abdominal pain as the capsaicin moves through your digestive tract.
- Why some might experience these effects more than others: The degree of discomfort or pain some people experience can depend on their pain tolerance and how sensitized their TRPV1 receptors are to capsaicinoids. Additionally, the amount of food in your system while you undertake the challenge can affect the intensity and duration of the symptoms. Those with a full stomach might find the challenge slightly more bearable as the food could dilute the spice levels. Conversely, those who attempt the challenge on an empty stomach may experience aggravated symptoms.
One Chip Challenge Side Effects

Participants of the One Chip Challenge should be aware of several common side effects that could occur during and after the challenge:
- Burning sensation in the mouth
- Watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Excessive sweating
- Difficulty breathing
- Intense salivation
- Temporary hearing loss
- Adrenaline rush
- Stomach discomfort, including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
- Capsaicin cramps (similar to muscle cramps)
- Heartburn or chest pain
- Diarrhea
Additionally, there may be some long-term health consequences to consider when participating in the One Chip Challenge or similar high-intensity spicy food challenges:
- Gastrointestinal issues: Repeatedly exposing your digestive system to high capsaicin levels can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers or gastritis, especially if you are prone to these conditions.
- Sensitization: Prolonged exposure to capsaicin can increase your TRPV1 receptor sensitivity, leading to heightened sensitivity and pain when consuming other spicy foods in the future.
- Esophageal damage: Though extremely rare, cases like the one mentioned earlier, with the tears in the esophagus due to intense retching and vomiting, could highlight the potential for serious complications with repeated ingestion of extreme spices.
It is crucial to consider these potential side effects carefully and evaluate your body’s tolerance and reactions before indulging in such challenges.
Proceeding with caution and awareness can help prevent adverse consequences to your health.
Conclusion – Can One Chip Challenge Cause Death?
While it is true that the One Chip Challenge can induce extreme discomfort, pain, and even health concerns, it should not be inherently life-threatening for most healthy individuals.
However, severe reactions are possible and could potentially be life-threatening in rare, extreme cases.
That’s all for now.
If you participated in this One Chip Challenge, please share your experience in the comments below.