Communication 39/2023
07.09.2023

Trial by fire: Extremely spicy food can be particularly
harmful to children’s health
For many people, spicy food is a culinary delight. But for some, it is also an invitation to test
one’s limits. Chilli plays a big part in this. Whether as chilli peppers, extremely hot chilli
sauces, or snacks such as crisps flavoured with chilli – the hot burning taste is caused by ingredients from the capsaicinoid group. One of the best known examples is capsaicin. Thesealkaloids are produced by various pepper species (including the chilli) and are supposed todeter predators from eating the fruits.
However, people are often not put off by this and sometimes understand it as a challenging
test of courage to eat foods with extreme spiciness. Some people even participate in spicy
food contests. The “Hot Chip Challenge” recently gained media attention. After trending onsocial media, it became well known amongst children and adolescents. This challenge involves eating a tortilla chip made from maize that is heavily spiced with capsaicin. This is often documented in videos or photos in order to prove participation. However, consumption
has already led to emergency medical interventions in some cases.
Because of the current increased public awareness of capsaicin, the Federal Institute for
Risk Assessment (BfR) would like to point out serious health impairments that can occur
with excessive consumption. Cases of adverse effects such as mucosal irritation, nausea,vomiting, and high blood pressure have repeatedly been reported. However, the amount ofcapsaicin consumed was often unknown. Children are particularly sensitive to hot chilli
products. Serious poisonings in young children as a result of ingesting chilli preparations
have been described in the international literature.
The BfR assumes that the spiciness traditionally tolerated by adults during a meal can be assigned to a maximum dose of 5 milligrams (mg) of capsaicin per kilogram of body weight (kgBW). This corresponds to an intake of 300 mg of capsaicin by a 60 kg adult over the courseof one meal.
The BfR advises consumers to exercise caution when consuming foods heavily flavoured
with capsaicin as well as large quantities of extremely hot chilli sauces and chilli extracts. Forexample, as part of a spicy food contest. In this case, severe health impairments are possible. These can even be life-threatening under certain circumstances. In your own household,
hot chilli sauces should be kept out of reach of small children.

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In the opinion of the BfR, the oral intake of chilli fruits, their preparations, and spicy to very
spicy dishes (e.g. from traditional African, Arabic, South American, and Asian cuisine) within
the framework of the usual international consumption is not associated with acute adverse
health effects. However, because of the limited data, a reliable statement on dose-response
relationships cannot be made. Intolerances in connection with the intake of chilli fruits arealso known. Contact dermatitis has also been described in cases of repeated skin contact
with chilli fruits (e.g. during food preparation).
Based on the data available, the BfR recommends labelling chilli and other seasoning saucesas well as products containing more than 100 mg capsaicin per kilogram of food and providing the packaging with child-resistant closures. Furthermore, the BfR recommends that therelevant food control authorities check in individual cases whether products with a capsaicin
content of more than 6,000 mg/kg can be regarded as safe for consumption.
This text version is a translation of the original German text which is the only legally bindingversion.

Further information on the subject of food ingredients on the BfR website
BfR Opinion on capsaicin: https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/349/too-hot-isnthealthy-foods-with-very-high-capsaicin-concentrations-can-damage-health.pdfTopic page on substance risks in food: https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/assessment_of_substance_risks_in_foods-738.html© BfR | Trial by fire: Extremely spicy food can be particularly harmful to children’s healthCommunication from 7 September 2023

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About the BfRThe German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the German Federal Ministry of Foodand Agriculture (BMEL). The BfR advises the Federal Government and the German federal states (“Laender”) on questions of food, chemicals, and productsafety. The BfR conducts independent research on topics that are closely linked
to its assessment tasks.

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Supervisory Authority: German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
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Responsible according to the German Press Law: Dr. Suzan Fiack© BfR | Trial by fire: Extremely spicy food can be particularly harmful to children’s healthCommunication from 7 September 2023

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