Spicy hot snacks: A recipe for disaster?

Spicy snacks like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Takis are popular among kids, but experts at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital warn that over-consumption can be cause for concern.

According to Dr. Cary Cavender, gastroenterologist at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, these seemingly harmless treats may pose a danger.

“We primarily see two settings where these kids present,” he notes. “One is in our GI clinic for kids with chronic complaints of abdominal pain or reflux symptoms. The second is actually in the Emergency Room for more acute issues.”

Dr. Cavender explains that what typically lands a child in the ER is overeating hot snacks and the fiery-red vomit that often results. “Sometimes it’s accompanied with blood, but the experience is intense regardless. So, that is a literal ‘red flag’ and it brings them into the Emergency Room fairly quickly,” he adds.

School-aged kids are the largest demographic of patients with complaints of chronic abdominal pain and gastritis related to spicy snacks. A YouTube rap video featuring these snacks may partially be to blame, as it’s fame—over 12 million views—has pumped up their addictive nature.

How Spicy Is Too Spicy?

A food’s degree of “hotness” is measured in Scoville units. “A jalapeño pepper might have a Scoville unit rating of 300-400. Some of these chips are going up above 1,000-1,500 Scoville units. So, it’s like entering a jalapeño eating contest on steroids, so to speak,” describes Dr. Cavender.

The way spicy foods are metabolized makes it more difficult to identify them as the core cause of abdominal distress. Because there are no nerves in the lining of the stomach, it takes approximately six hours to notice any direct irritation. “Most kids don’t associate the abdominal pain they’re having with eating the hot chips because it is hours later and they’ve eaten other foods or done other stuff in between,” says Dr. Cavender.

Drinking certain beverages such as caffeinated energy drinks compounds the problem and intensifies symptoms—as does being dehydrated.

Just Say No

To resolve any gastritis symptoms related to hot snacks, Dr. Cavender advises avoiding them altogether. But, kids will be kids, so the take-home message is that “less is better.” He also encourages parents to try to supplant chips in general with healthier snacking options.

“Make sure to ask your kids about their exposure to hot chips. Because they can get them at any school, even if the family doesn’t have them at home,” cautions Dr. Cavender. “I even have a couple of patients who are hot chip ‘dealers’ at their school. One says he makes $20 a day. So, just being aware that they are around and asking about them, and then certainly avoiding purchasing them in the first place is a great start.”

Listen to a full interview with Dr. Cary Cavender on the hospital's podcast, the Peds Pod by Le Bonheur Children's Hospital.