Before Takis reigned supreme over other spicy snacks, Flamin' Hot Cheetos had a real moment. Specifically, in 2018, when restaurants were selling everything from Flamin Hot pizza to Flamin' Hot ice cream. Unfortunately, these addictive, bright red snacks were also making headlines for the wrong reasons.
Beloved Snack Or Health Risk?
In 2018, rapper Lil Xan was allegedly hospitalized with stomach issues after eating too many Flamin' Hots. What's more concerning is that this was not the only case that year of people being hospitalized after eating too much of the spicy snack. That same year, Flamin' Hot Cheetos sent several teenagers to the hospital.
The cause wasn't heartburn from all the sodium, it was the iconic red dye. Not only does the dye literally leave you red-handed—something a few savvy consumers get around by using chopsticks, but it can also stain you from the inside out. Many of the hospitalized teens found red in their vomit and stool and panicked, believing it to be blood.
However, the red dye was no cause for concern. Nor was it the fact that many ingredients in Flamin' Hot Cheetos are difficult to pronounce. Instead, it was overconsumption of the snacks.
The patients who ended up in the hospital had one thing in common: they were consuming far more than the recommended amount of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. When eaten in moderation and healthy portions, these snacks offer no more danger than tingly lips and stained fingers. When overconsumed, they can cause stomach issues.
When eaten in large quantities, spicy food can irritate the stomach lining. Eaten in large quantities over time, this can lead to peptic ulcers and even gallbladder removal. It is the quantity of the snack, along with a person's spice tolerance that causes gastric distress, not the snack itself.
A similar story went viral in 2023 when TikTok's "spicy chip challenge" led to the death of a child. The chip in question was flavored with Naga Viper and Carolina Reaper peppers. It's worth noting that the child also had pre-existing heart conditions.
Everything In Moderation
As for the children who were hospitalized for Flamin' Hot Cheetos specifically, they were eating far more than the recommended amount. One teen regularly ate four bags a day and had to have her gallbladder out. Eating far beyond the recommended amount of anything can have consequences for your health.
Flamin' Hot Cheetos and other spicy snacks are particularly popular among youth, sometimes with children as young as four. Not only are these snacks extraordinarily popular on social media such as TikTok, but they actually give you a bit of a rush. Spicy seaoning releases endorphins, which makes you want to eat more.
In short, while spicy food can irritate your system, it isn't lethal. The problem comes with eating vast quantities of spicy food. Nonetheless, several school districts in California, Illinois, and New Mexico have banned snacks such as Flamin' Hot Cheetos and Takis, not just because of their low nutritional content, but because they've proven distracting in the classroom.
A few months ago, PepsiCo announced the launch of their new NKD line, which strips snacks of their artificial dyes—namely red dyes 3 and 40. PepsiCo stressed that NKD snacks would taste and crunch the same, even if their looks were toned down. Consumers agree, stating that the flavor is identical in a blind taste test.
Flamin' Hots weren't the only snacks stripped of their coloring. Both Cool Ranch and Nacho Cheese Doritos are now sold without dyes as well. However, if the red dye is integral to your enjoyment, don't worry—you can still buy these products with their artificial dyes in tact...for now.
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