As if parents don’t have enough to worry about, they can now add spicy snacks to the list of things that can be potentially harmful to their kids! If you have a child who has an adventurous palate and who enjoys hot and spicy snack foods you may want to pay close attention to just how much of them your child is eating, because according to doctors they can cause some serious health issues.

Doctor Carla Laos from Saint David's Children's Hospital explained to Fox 4 News that she has begun to see an increasing number of children between the ages of just 3 and 7 in the hospital with illness related to eating the hot and spicy snacks. While kids may love the flavor of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, Takis or other similar snack foods, Dr. Laos says they are also contributing to some serious health issues. She told the news stations that kids have been brought to the hospital complaining of everything from burning of the mouth, chest pain, and stomach issues.

"It can cause irritation from anywhere from the mouth until the food leaves the body. We've seen children with complaints of burning from the mouth chest pain, esophagus sometimes irritation of the stomach," Dr. Laos stated.

Rapper Lil Xan learned the dangers of eating too many Flamin’ Hot Cheetos the hard way last year when he found himself in the hospital after vomiting blood! "I was in the hospital, not doing any drugs, but I guess I ate, uh, too many Hot Cheetos and it ... ripped something in my stomach open, so I puked a little blood," the rapper said in an Instagram live video, explaining his medical condition to fans. He warned fans to "be careful" because "Hot Cheetos are one hell of a drug" after receiving his own Hot Cheetos-related health scare.

Last year the mother of a Tennessee teenager told news outlets that she believes her daughter’s love of the spicy snack foods contributed to her health problems that resulted in the 17-year-old having to undergo gallbladder removal surgery.

"When my daughter had to have this surgery, I knew I had to tell everybody about it," Rene Craighead said of her daughters obsession with hot and spicy snacks. "She loves them. Every time I go out she says, 'Bring me back some Hot Takis, bring me back some Hot Chips.' I want to make her happy, so I brought them back. She was eating big bags and would take them to school with her," Craighead said.

Dr. Cary Canvender, a gastroenterologist at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, told WREG News that they are seeing an increased number of children with illnesses due to eating the spicy snack foods.

"We probably see around 100 kids a month, easily."

Buchanan Public Relations responded about the safety of eating Takis in a statement, writing that the snack foods are safe. "We assure you that Takis are safe to eat, but should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a well-balanced diet. Takis ingredients fully comply with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, and all of the ingredients in each flavor are listed in detail on the label. Always check the serving size before snacking."

Frito-Lay, which makes the Hot Cheetos, also released a statement assuring consumers their product is safe. “At Frito-Lay, food safety is always our number one priority, and our snacks meet all applicable food safety regulations as well as our rigorous quality standards. Some consumers may be more sensitive to spicy foods than others and may choose to avoid spicier snacks due to personal preference.”

While everything in moderation is definitely a mantra many people live by, it definitely seems to apply to hot and spicy snacks!

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