One Chip Challenge lawsuit overview:
- Who: Lois Lama Wolobah filed a lawsuit against The Hershey Company, Walgreens and several related entities and individuals.
- Why: Wolobah claims Hershey and Walgreens are responsible for the death of her 14-year-old son, who died last year after consuming a “One Chip Challenge” tortilla chip.
- Where: The lawsuit was filed in Suffolk County Superior Court.
The mother of a 14-year-old boy who died last year after eating a Paqui “One Chip Challenge” spicy tortilla chip product has filed a lawsuit against The Hershey Company and Walgreen over his death.
The lawsuit names Hershey and its subsidiaries Paqui LLC and Amplify Snack Brands as well as Walgreens and the Walgreens location, store manager and store clerk from where the chip was purchased.
Wolobah argues her son, Harris Wolobah, died after complaining of feeling ill after consuming an unknown quantity of the One Chip Challenge chips last year.
She claims Hershey and its subsidiaries were responsible for manufacturing and selling the spicy chip product, while the Walgreens location where the product was purchased is accused of making the since-discontinued chips freely accessible to children.
The chips were marketed by Hershey as being ultra-spicy and consuming them became a viral internet challenge, according to the lawsuit.
Hershey, Walgreens knew ‘One Chip Challenge’ was dangerous, suit says
Wolobah claims Hershey and Walgreens promoted the One Chip Challenge product despite knowing consuming the product was dangerous and simultaneously targeted youth with its marketing and made it readily available to them.
Her son, Harris Wolobah, allegedly lost consciousness while at school after consuming the product last year and subsequently died after eventually being transported to a hospital, according to the lawsuit.
Harris Wolobah’s official cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest brought on by consuming a food product with a high capsaicin concentration, according to the complaint.
Lois Lama Wolobah is seeking $350 million in damages over wrongful death, pain and suffering and loss of the companionship of her son.
Amplify Snack Brands removed the product from store shelves in the U.S. and Canada last September out of what the company said at the time was an abundance caution, following the death.
Do you believe Hershey and Walgreens are responsible for the death of Harris Wolobah? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Douglas K. Sheff and Kathy Jo Cook of Sheff & Cook LLC and Richard J. Rafferty of The Law Office of Eden Rafferty.
The One Chip Challenge lawsuit is Wolobah v. Paqui LLC, et al., Case No. 2484CV1819, in Suffolk County Superior Court.
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15 thoughts onWalgreens, Hershey hit with ‘One Chip Challenge’ lawsuit following teen’s death
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Where does personal responsibility come into this? Here, a young man, whose death was a tragedy, consumed a large amount of chips that were clearly advertised as being hot. He ate them because of some stupid peer pressure on social media. No one forced them down his throat. He ate them willingly. How can anyone hold a clerk who rang him up at the cash register as responsible? How can you hold the manufacturer responsible? They package the chips in small quantities, and clearly mark that they are extremely hot. If someone decides to consume them in a large quantity, that is the individual’s choice.
Using this reasoning, if I go out and buy 200 pounds of M&Ms chocolate candy, eat it all, become morbidly obese and die, then I can hold M&M Mars responsible? Personal responsibility and common sense have become lost in today’s society! It is so easy to put the blame on someone else in this participation trophy world!
Wow! It’s so sad. The food companies are killing us all!!
We need to start looking at the ingredients of the food that we are purchasing.
If it’s processed, it’s harmful for you!
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