Major supermarket slaps 18+ age restriction on ready meal in UK first

For spice lovers seeking an intense heat challenge, Iceland Foods is about to turn up the temperature with the launch of two new ready meals made from the world's hottest pepper, Pepper X. 

However, due to the intense level of spice in the products, the supermarket has introduced an age restriction - requiring customers to be 18 or older to purchase these fiery dishes. 

Pepper X, which scores a scorching 2.69 million on the Scoville scale, is more than 53,000 per cent hotter than a jalapeño, making it the star ingredient in Iceland's new Chicken Tikka Masala and Chilli Mac and Cheese meals. 

This makes Iceland the first UK retailer to enforce an age limit on ready meals, a decision made to protect younger customers from the extreme heat. 

Supermarket staff will be briefed to check for ID at the tills, ensuring that no underage customers are able to purchase the super-spicy meals. 

Iceland Foods' head development chef, Matthew Worsley, commented on the daring new range: 'Our customers love spice, and they are always pushing us to turn up the heat. 

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'So, this time we have developed a range that will not disappoint. Our Pepper X range is unlike anything we've ever offered to our customers before. It's intense, it's fiery and it's certainly not for the faint-hearted.'

He added: 'With intense heat comes great responsibility, so to ensure only the most experienced spice enthusiasts can take on the challenge, we've decided to limit sales to customers aged 18 and over.'

The new policy comes in response to the extreme heat of Pepper X, which was crowned the world's hottest chilli by Guinness World Records in 2023. 

Created by Smokin' Ed Currie - the mastermind behind the now-dethroned hottest chilli, the Carolina Reaper - Pepper X has only previously been available in hot sauce form.

The two Pepper X meals will be available in select Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores starting Thursday, 10 October, with a wider rollout across all stores and online by Monday, 14 October.

Priced at £4 each, the meals are expected to attract thrill-seeking spice enthusiasts across the UK - but be reminded, this challenge isn't for the faint-hearted. 

It comes after fourteen high school students in Japan were rushed to hospital on after consuming 'super spicy' potato chips in July. 

Around 30 students ate the fiery snack, which was brought to school in Tokyo by one of their classmates, according to The Japan Times.

The incident unfolded when several students began experiencing severe nausea and acute pain around their mouths shortly after eating the crisps, prompting immediate emergency calls to the fire department and police.

Among those affected, 13 girls and one boy were taken to the hospital. Fortunately, all were conscious and reportedly only had minor symptoms.

The snack in question, known as 'R 18+ curry chips,' is produced by Isoyama Corp.