Please chill with the spicy for the sake of spicy

Seriously, cool it.                   [View on web]( [The Paqui one-chip challenge requires spice- or pain-loving challengers to consume a single, seasoning-drenched chip, which comes in sealed bag and a coffin-shaped box.]( Paqui has begun pulling its notorious product from grocery store shelves, offering refunds to customers who are no longer willing to partake in the challenge. | Sarah Dussault/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images This past week, a Massachusetts teen died after participating in the “one-chip challenge,” a ridiculously spicy, Carolina Reaper-laced stunt food that was introduced by the Hershey-owned brand Paqui in 2006. Whether or not the chip actually contributed to the 14-year-old’s death remains to be seen, but Paqui has [officially pulled the product from shelves](, which means that now is as good a time as any to cool it with these asinine “spicy” challenges. Super-spicy food challenges are not a new phenomenon, but they have become more ubiquitous in recent years. There’s an entire category of YouTube videos in which people sweat their way through [ghost pepper-laced cheeseburgers]( and guzzle milk to tame the heat of super-spicy ramen. The one-chip challenge was merely a symptom of our increasing obsession with extremely hot foods, a glorified dare with the potential to inflict everything from [minor gastrointestinal distress to a full-on heart attack]( on those who choose to seek it out. I blame Hot Ones. The wildly popular YouTube series, in which celebrities answer questions while eating increasingly spicy chicken wings, has transformed hot sauce from a basic condiment you can put on everything into a challenge of strength. Audiences make fun of celebrities who struggle to make it through the show’s spiciest sauces, while those who sail through without issue are praised for their poise. The series has also spawned tons of [imitators](, which rip off the Hot Ones formula (to much less compelling effect) in search of their own digital clout. But what, exactly, is the point? Once you’ve reached the higher range of the Scoville scale, you’re not tasting anything but the chile oils that are burning your mouth. You don’t win a medal for completing the one-chip challenge, just a little bit of meaningless glory, and the potential for some really gnarly side effects. In this era of super-spicy stunt foods, there’s no room for flavor nuance, and that’s a shame, because there’s so much great food out there that is both really spicy and also really tasty. Instead of inventing the next one-chip challenge, just go get biryani or Thai stir-fry or tacos with salsa de arbol. You’ll get the chance to really set your taste buds on fire while still enjoying a great meal. — Amy McCarthy, staff writer More Links: - This [incredible essay from Shannon Wianecki about the restaurants destroyed in the devastating Lahaina fires]( earlier this summer is a must-read, even though it will break your heart. - Somehow I’m not surprised that [food lobbying groups are paying certain expert influencers, like dieticians and nutritionists, to shill for their products](, as the Washington Post reported this week. - Colorado cities paid a huge pile of cash to Michelin to bring the tire company’s vaunted dining guide... and [only a measly five restaurants made the list](. Next month, [the guide heads to Atlanta, and the city’s chefs are skeptical](. If you like this email, please forward it to a friend. If you aren't signed up for this newsletter, you can [do so right here](.  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences]( or [unsubscribe](param=today). View our [Privacy Notice]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 11, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.