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It started with a bite, but a regular taco night turned into something else when one Aussie dad decided to swap out his usual Doritos Hot salsa for the Medium version. He figured it’d be a safer option for his kids. He was wrong.
Seconds after digging in, his “exceptionally soft” tweenagers were in tears, claiming their mouths were on fire. That didn’t add up. The label said medium, not molten lava. So he did what any curious (and slightly suspicious) snack fan would do: grabbed a spoon and tried it himself.
This whole saga was shared on Reddit, where the dad posted his findings to the r/australia subreddit, claiming he had uncovered “the most shocking conspiracy theories in Australian history.” Here’s how the story went down.
The Conspiracy Unfolds on Reddit
What began as a quirky food complaint quickly gathered traction. Before long, it turned into a full-blown investigation online, complete with blind tastings, heat rankings and community theories.
It was spicy. Too spicy. Spicier than the hot version that he usually eats with no trouble. At first, he thought it might have been a dodgy batch. Maybe someone at the factory went a little heavy on the chillies. But then it kept happening. Week after week, jar after jar, the medium salsa brought the heat.
Eventually, he snapped. Not in anger, but in pursuit of the truth. He needed answers. He bought 13 jars: two hot, six medium, and a stack of mild for comparison. He grabbed a couple of family-sized corn chip bags, four Coopers Pale Ales (good choice, by the way), and got to work.
Over four hours, he taste-tested each salsa again and again. Mild served as a palate cleanser. Coopers kept the burn at bay. He carefully compared every bite. It was spicy. It was confusing. It was a scientific method only Dr Karl could love.
By the end of it all (and following what he politely described as an “explosive” toilet experience), he was certain. Medium is hotter than hot.
So, What’s the Verdict?
So what’s going on? A mistake at the factory? Someone switching labels as a prank? A recipe tweak nobody mentioned? Or, as he half-joked, a secret operation led by Mexican business leaders trying to melt Australian tongues?
It turns out, the original poster wasn’t alone in his suspicions. Reddit users quickly joined in, sharing their own experiences.
“I noticed this years ago,” said one comment, while another suggested testing the Colesworth knockoffs. “Let’s see how deep this rabbit hole goes,” they commented.
Of course, others veered a little too close toward conspiracy theories, suggesting the existence of an agency monitoring spice levels.
Others were just grateful. “Thank you for so generously giving your body to advance the cause of science and collect this data,” one user said, while another added, “I just thought I was randomly sensitive to spice suddenly.”
But in an age where ads are infiltrating every corner of the internet, not everyone was convinced.
“Nice try, Doritos sales and marketing team,” joked one commenter, while another suggested the post might be “the weirdest viral marketing campaign yet.”
The original poster wasn’t having any of it, replying with a wink, “You got me. All those posts about composting, my son’s bunny rabbits, and my boring Adelaide life were just a setup for this moment so I could be a Doritos salsa shill.”
So, next time you’re at the shops, thinking medium means middle ground, you might want to reconsider. This Aussie legend has done the hard work (and paid the price) to warn the rest of us. Snack wisely.
