Frito-Lay says that, after sticking your hand into a bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, you’ll do three things: eat the spiced cornmeal puffs, lick the “cheetle” off your fingertips and break into a “cheesy smile.” These snacks will bring the heat — but, in some cases, they can also reportedly land you in the hospital.
Lil Xan made headlines yesterday not for his highly public breakup with Noah Cyrus, but for claiming Flamin’ Hot Cheetos sent him to the emergency room.
The rapper posted a series of Instagram Stories documenting his experience from the ambulance. He then shared a video, saying: “I just want to let everyone know I was in the hospital not due to any drugs, but I guess I ate too many Hot Cheetos, and it ripped something in my stomach open.”
He tells fans that he “puked a little blood.”
The 22-year-old wrote in the video caption, “Just wanna let everyone know that I’m good, healthier then I’ve ever been and ready to kick of my third Tour in NY ina couple days!”
“Also be careful, Hot Cheetos are one hell of a drug aha,” he added.
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos: Are they safe?
One Metro staffer has a family member who “pretty much exists solely” on Hot Cheetos. This person does complain about stomach issues after eating too much — but it’s apparently “nothing too serious.”
However, there have been instances similar to Lil Xan’s where gastritis — inflammation, erosion or irritation of the stomach lining — and other intestinal issues were linked to the overconsumption of hot snacks.
In July, WREG reported that a 17-year-old who ate four bags of these chips per week (ranging from Hot Cheetos to Takis and Hot Fries) got her gallbladder removed.
Gastroenterologist Cary Cavender of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital told the news outlet that eating the spicy snacks most likely contributed to the surgery. “We do see tons of gastritis and ulcer-related stuff due to [hot snacks],” he said.
One Philadelphia doctor, Peter Mattei, told CNN of the girl’s case, “I’ve never heard that spiciness or spices can do that.” He did, however, stress that fatty foods tend to be the main thing that “stimulate the gallbladder” and “a lot of spicy foods are also high in fat.”
“We have a population who loves to eat the hot, spicy, not-real foods, and they come in [to the emergency room] with these real complaints,” Dr. Martha Rivera of Los Angeles’ White Memorial Medical Center told ABC7 back in 2013. “[The kids are being] set up for ulcerations, erosions and… peptic ulcer disease.”
The spicy chips, she said, can easily increase acidity in the stomach lining: “It burns when it goes down, it burns when it comes out.”
Since 2012, when Hot Cheetos’ popularity reportedly spiked, some school districts have pushed to get the snack banned from school grounds for the “addictive” properties and related health concerns.
Dr. Robert Glatter from New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital, told CBS that year, “A number of patients who have consumed these Cheetos in excess have complained of pain in their upper abdomen, rising into their chest, likely due to the red peppers and spice contained in the snack.”
Are Flamin’ Hot Cheetos safe to eat? Frito-Lay weighs in
A Frito-Lay spokesperson tells Metro, “At Frito-Lay, we aim to delight our consumers and food safety is always our number one priority. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos meet all applicable food safety regulations, as well as our rigorous quality standards.”
“That said, we realize some consumers may be more sensitive to spicy foods than others and may choose to moderate consumption or avoid spicier snacks due to personal preference,” the statement continues. “When consumers have questions or concerns about any of our products, we are available to answer their questions through our dedicated Consumer Relations team.”
The verdict? Go ahead and eat your Flamin’ Hot Cheetos if that’s what your heart desires — but listen to your stomach at all costs.
