Hot sauce prank in Chicago school cafeteria lands three in hospital

Ah the days of youth, so filled with promise, hope and expectation completely unfettered by the restrictions of reality. Until one day, the school-of-hard-knocks crushes them into a humbled state of eyes-wide-open.

That fateful day for a 17-year-old Chicago student landed him in hot water, with five juvenile misdemeanors charges because of a hot sauce prank he pulled at his Highland Park High School cafeteria, reports ABC.

The teen reportedly snuck into his high school cafeteria and added hot sauce to a container of marinara pasta sauce just before it was served to students at lunch.

“I don’t think you can find this hot sauce in the store,” a local police officer tells the Washington Times of the Da’ Bomb brand hot sauce that was used. “It sounds like this kid had to get it someplace special.”

Also see: Cricket prank bans seniors from graduating

The prank was discovered after another student ate some of the spiked marinara sauce and altered cafeteria staff to its excessive spiciness.

When the staff then took out the marinara to inspect it, the mere fumes caused coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and skin rashes in three staff, sending them to hospital. They were later released without any serious injuries.

The incident has prompted school officials to install security cameras in the cafeteria. They had already bought a few cameras before the incident and were deciding where to install them.

The student will be disciplined by the school board in addition to the charges he faces.

It is unclear which of the Da' Bomb hot sauces was used. Though one type, Final Answer, is listed as having a heat level of 1,500,000 Scoville Units -- similar to that of law enforcement-grade pepper spray. The website description reads:

Also see: Teen says she was banned from prom because of big breasts

"The hottest of all of the Da' Bomb line. Rated at 1,500,000 Scoville Units. Not for direct consumption, use as a food additive only. Warning: Do NOT eat straight out of the jar!"

As it turns out, people really enjoy messing with their health in all manner of hot sauce pranks. YouTube is filled with footage of various hot sauce pranks and dare competitions, some of which seemingly result moderate injury.

Just last year, we reported on a British cook who was rushed to hospital after eating chicken wings covered in an extremely spicy pepper sauce he concocted.

What are your thoughts on hot sauce pranks and competitions? Good fun or suicide in the making?