How Hot Is Too Hot: Spicy Foods & Your Kids

A Memphis mother found out the hard way about the dangers of spicy chips. Her daughter’s fervor for spicy-hot chips like Hot Takis and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos landed her in the doctor’s office for stomach issues. Rene Craighead, the mother of the child, said that she was surprised when the doctor said her daughter would have to have her gallbladder removed (or a cholecystectomy).

Doctors say it’s quite common for patients to come in the ulcer or stomach related issues due to eating spicy food. The makers of Flamin Hot Cheetos say they stand by their product, but some customers might need to abstain.

“At Frito-Lay, food safety is always our number one priority, and our snacks meet all applicable food safety regulations as well as our rigorous quality standards. Some consumers may be more sensitive to spicy foods than others and may choose to avoid spicier snacks due to personal preference,” a company spokesperson said.

Cases like the one experienced by the mother in Memphis are common. Doctors get a dozen of these cases a month in some places. It’s like they say, if it goes in hot, it is going to come out hot as well. Sit with that one for a minute.

Many patients come to the emergency room with