In the News – Spicy Food Safety
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EmailA recent headline and recall on spicy noodles has folks wondering, can a food contain too much capsaicin? In this post, we review the spicy food ingredient capsaicin.
Why were the spicy noodles recalled?
The Danish regulatory agency overseeing food safety issued a recall of spicy noodles due to the potential for folks to be “poisoned” by excessively high capsaicin levels. 
Of note, we didn’t find information supporting the idea that anyone had been “poisoned” or experienced long-term adverse health effects due to spice levels from the recalled noodles. We did find a small study suggesting that the spicy noodles may temporarily increase intraocular pressure but not to clinically significant levels.
What is hot sauce? How do foods become spicy?
In the U.S., hot sauce typically refers to any sauce, salsa, or seasoning made primarily from chili peppers, found in the genus Capsicum, combined with other ingredients.
Food becomes spicy when chilis containing capsicum is added to change the flavor profile or a condiment like hot sauce is added to the food.
Chili peppers are native to the Americas, spread across the globe through trade routes, and were further cultivated throughout the world.
What causes the spiciness or hotness we experience from some foods?
We experience the spicy flavor and sensation due to capsaicin. Capsaicin is the active component found in chili peppers.
Capsaicin is considered a chemical irritant and produces a burning sensation when mammals, including humans, come in contact with the chemical ingredient.
We often intentionally come into contact with capsaicin through cooking. However, it doesn't only cause a burning sensation when eaten. When in contact, it can cause a burning sensation on our skin, eyes, and other body parts.
The burning sensation is most intense on body parts with mucous membranes (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth, etc.). That's why it's essential to wear gloves when handling chili peppers and wash our hands after handling the peppers.
Are chili peppers good for me? Are they healthy?
Chili peppers are an excellent food as they are low in calories, fats, carbohydrates, and protein but contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals necessary for a healthy diet (1).
As part of a balanced diet, chili peppers impart great flavor to dishes and boost nutritional content without adding excess calories, fats, or sodium to a meal.
Two epidemiological studies even suggest that regular chili consumption, as part of a well-rounded diet, may improve life span (1,2). While others disagree, there's no current research showing chili peppers cause harm to folks without chili-pepper-related allergies (1,2).
How is risk characterized?
Risk characterization combines information from hazard identification, dose-response assessment, and exposure assessment to estimate the likelihood of adverse health effects. This step answers the question: "What is the risk?"
It provides a comprehensive picture of the potential health impact of a substance based on the identified hazards and the assessed exposure levels.
Is capsaicin good for me? Is it healthy?
Both hot sauces and chili peppers contain capsaicin. Researchers have found that capsaicin possesses a host of positive health-related attributes, including,
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reducing neuropathic pain that can be caused by varying health conditions (1,2,3).
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helping manage weight and weight loss (1).
Other early studies in controlled laboratory settings show promising results around capsaicin, which may pave the way for future research and potential medical advancements, including,
While research suggests there may be health benefits associated with capsaicin, the scientists in the listed studies are using a higher capsaicin concentration in doses and at dose rates that you cannot typically mimic through your diet.
Research helps us advance our understanding of specific compounds and how to use those compounds to improve health in more ways than just diet alone.
How is spiciness rated?
Chili peppers are most often rated using the Scoville scale, which identifies their spiciness in Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
The Scoville scale was developed in 1912 and relies on human subjectivity to determine chili pepper's spiciness. The testing is done by making an alcohol-based chili pepper extract and then diluting it until it no longer tastes hot to the testers. The degree of dilution determines the SHU (1).
For example, mild bell pepper will have a Scoville scale of 300SHU whereas an orange habanero pepper will have a Scoville index of 400,000SHU (1).
More accurate testing using high-performance liquid chromatography exists. The technology allows scientists to measure capsaicinoid content to determine spice without human subjectivity. However, the Scoville scale is most frequently used and advertised when selling chili peppers and hot sauces (1,2).
Can spicy foods cause harm? Are chili-eating or spicy food contests safe?
In extreme situations, yes, spicy foods can cause harm. Adverse health events related to spicy food consumption are often related to spicy food-eating challenges. This is particularly true for individuals with pre-existing health conditions, especially those related to the cardiovascular or digestive system.
There have been documented cases of people suffering from Boerhaave Syndrome, where the esophagus is extremely damaged from vomiting induced by eating extremely high-SHU capsaicin-containing foods, causing a life-threatening situation that requires immediate medical attention.
In another situation, a person experienced a thunderclap headache caused by the temporary narrowing of the blood vessels brought on by an extreme chili pepper eating contest.
A more severe documented case comes from a minor who had an underlying heart condition, and the consumption of a capsaicin-containing challenge chip (not intended for minors to consume) unfortunately led to his death.
These are extreme situations caused by food challenges related to overconsuming extremely high-SHU capsaicin-containing foods.
The capsaicin levels found in the vast majority of foods sold to consumers will not contain enough capsaicin to cause long-term harm to the body. However, they can absolutely cause short-term discomfort.
In short, if you have a health condition, talk with your medical provider before consuming extremely high SHU capsaicin-containing foods or participating in any sort of spicy food eating challenge.
Are spicy foods safe in normal quantities?
Unless you have an allergy or medical condition, you can enjoy hot sauces and chili peppers in regular quantities (1,2,3).
However, you can upset your stomach and cause pain by consuming hot sauces, chili peppers, and foods with capsaicin-containing ingredients with a high SHU. While this isn't lethal in normal quantities, it can be incredibly uncomfortable.
What else do I need to know about capsaicin?
Pepper spray, bear sprays, mace, and other capsaicin-containing sprays are chemical irritants not intended to be consumed in food or beverages. They are explicitly designed as a safety and policing tool to temporarily impair animals and people without causing permanent harm.
While considered non-lethal, folks with breathing conditions should seek medical attention if they come into contact with these sprays.
The good news.
Hot sauces and chili peppers can be an integral part of a healthy diet. We can confidently state that incorporating them into most people’s diets does not cause undue harm and may even boost health. However, it's important to consume them in moderation and be mindful of individual tolerance levels and any pre-existing health conditions that might be affected by spicy foods.
If you have any questions about foods and ingredients, please reach out to us via email or submit your idea to us at go.msu.edu/cris-idea.
