On Sept. 19, the PA administration and the health office sent a letter to parents and students about the dangers of the “Paqui One Chip Challenge” after some PA students attempted it in the building and needed to seek medical attention. 

The One Chip Challenge is a social media trend where one attempts to eat a chip containing an ingredient called capsaicin, which is found in chili peppers. 

The challenge can have a variety of side-affects, such as throat and mouth pain, but it can also have more serious health concerns, such as difficulty breathing and heart palpitations.

Students attempted the challenge in the school cafeteria during lunch periods. In his email, Dr. Morris wrote that administration was caught off-guard.

“We try to be more diligent about recognizing when a student may be participating in this activity. Lunches are supervised by administrators, and we have a good sense of what to look for,” Dr. Morris wrote in the email. 

The One-Chip Challenge is not recommended for children or teenagers, and its packaging contains  an “adults only” label.