Mike Jack holds the Guiness world record of eating 50 Carolina reaper peppers in under seven minutes. He went on to keep eating up to 135 peppers in hopes of beating the 160 peppers record. As much as Mike enjoys eating peppers, there is also other events that he does. “I have a TV show on Roger’s TV called jack up the heat where I challenge restaurants to make the world’s hottest food,” Jack said.
Mike has tried everything from eating the hottest pizza to the hottest ice cream on his show. He mentions that his family hasn’t been the most supportive but still has a few people that will stand by his side. “My in laws are actually super supportive. They come watch the events and cheer me on” Jack said. His wife was unsure at first about Mike taking on the pepper challenges. “She just doesn’t want to see her husband get hurt too bad,” he said.
Mike and his wife did their research to see if there are any side effects from eating too many hot peppers. They found out that there wasn’t anything too dangerous and Mike mentions that his wife is always by his side when he takes on these pepper challenges. “She’s like my coach now, my manager, she gives me words of encouragement, cheering me on,” he said.
Mike Jack lifting his chili pepper champion belt | photo by: Mike Jack
There is a lot of preparation that goes into pepper eating challenges. Mike mentioned that it almost feels like you are getting ready for a boxing match against the Peppers. “They get your endorphins going and you get like a pepper high,” he said. It has many similarities to a hot dog or pie eating contest but with peppers. Mike mentioned that he even won a belt that looks like what you win after a boxing match from pepper eating contests.
Despite the great achievements Mike Jack has had with pepper eating challenges, there are some downsides too. He describes the feeling after eating so many hot peppers in one sitting.
“That’s where it’s not really that good. It kind of comes in waves of stomach pains and heat sweats. So, I usually don’t really sleep well that night. Sometimes I feel like you’re overheating, and I just need to lay down on a cold floor. After some extreme pepper eating it’s about, I’d say 12 to 14 hours and then I’m okay again”.
The two-time League of Fire Americas Regional belt champion has a list of challenges and competitions he wants to take part in 2023. Mike is looking to defend his Americas belt that will be happening at the end of June in San Diego. But in his hometown, Mike Jack will be taking part in the Heatwave hot sauce expo on Feb. 25 here in London, Ontario.
