Last year, I wrote about the tragic death of a Massachusetts teen who consumed a single Paqui potato chip as part of the “one-chip” social media challenge, and died shortly after.

The teenager was brought to the hospital where he complained of chest pains and became ill.

FDA regulations allow for certain additives to be in foods as long as they are “generally recognized as safe” for their intended purpose.

That legal standard combines two elements, one that the substance is generally safe, but secondly and perhaps more importantly, that within the bounds of it’s intended use it still remains safe.

For example, salt is a substance that is generally recognized as safe. However, in high quantities, salt can induce salt poisoning which can cause weakness, nausea and in rare cases death.

If a single can of beans contained 100 grams of salt (and a single can was a serving), salt would no longer meet the legal standard of being generally recognized as safe by the FDA.

The one chip challenge used high levels of capsaicin, the chemical found in hot peppers that produces a spicy flavor, and presumably abided by FDA guidelines. Capsaicin has been recognized as safe by the FDA, and by FEMA, an organization that holds paramount credibility in determining food safety.

However, capsaicin is safe as long as it’s not used in extremely high doses and concentrations, which this chip did.

Furthermore, the FDA says that if an ingredient poses and unreasonable risk of illness under the conditions of recommended use, (which in the case of the one chip challenge the recommended use was to eat the entire chip in one go), then the food is considered “adulterated” and not safe.

Take some of the chip’s labeling for example, which advertised images of the grim reaper, and the phrase “after this, hell should be easy.”

There are many arguments that support the culpability of Paqui, the chip manufacturer, but the most damning evidence (I think) is a recently released report by the FDA which shows countless complaints filed against Paqui warning them of serious and violent illnesses being experienced after consumption of the chip.

These reports, coupled with sweeping news stories of children falling ill after consuming this chip, should encourage every American to start questioning the actions of the FDA and seriously scrutinize the ingredients and additives that are allowed in our food.

Below is the FDA report that I requested under FOIA. This is a never seen before Jake The Lawyer exclusive document that you’ll only see here.

In the document, you’ll read the furious complaints of parents, rightfully questioning how “this product is even allowed to be marketed towards children.” Or if there’s and age restriction on the product, why didn’t the grocery store enforce it?

You’ll read reports of ER visits, vomiting, diarrea and police calls. All over this one stupid chip. It wasn’t until a child died that Paqui voluntarily recalled the product.

Why doesn’t the FDA do more? you may ask.

Well, their default response is that they’re understaffed.

Take for example their denial of a request to start enforcing regulations against beta-alanine products.

Beta-alanine is a supplement which has gone completely unregulated by the FDA. It’s commonly used in energy drinks that produce a tingly sensation across your body.

In a letter sent to the requester, FDA simply wrote off their laziness as a “staffing shortage issue,” and claimed they were prioritizing bigger problems.

I.e. they don’t care what’s in your food. Our food is literally going unregulated, unsupervised, and untested.