It’s official… the hottest ready meals in the world are about to hit UK supermarkets, but you have to be over 18 to buy them.
If you’d consider yourself to be pretty tolerant when it comes to spicy food, and reckon you’ve got what it takes to handle the heat, then two new ready meals made with the world’s hottest chilli pepper are launching in Iceland from this week – but due to the serious spice levels, bosses have been forced to ban ban under 18s from getting their hands on them.
The two new meals, a searingly-spicy Chicken Tikka Masala and a molten Chilli Mac & Cheese, are with the world’s hottest chilli, Pepper X, which tops a staggering 2.69 million Scoville heat units – making it 53,760% hotter than a jalapeño.
The Pepper X chilli earned the title of the World’s Hottest Chilli from Guinness World Records in 2023, and last year, and has only ever been available in sauce form up until now.
The world’s hottest ready meals are going on sale in the UK but you have to be over 18 to buy them / Credit: Supplied
The new products are so hot, in fact, that Iceland has become the first UK supermarket to introduce an age restriction on ready meals.
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Whether you can believe it or not, staff at stores across the UK are prepped and will be on high alert when the products hit the shelves from this Thursday (10 October), ensuring IDs are shown at the checkouts, which means those daring enough for the challenge need to come prepared if they want to walk away with them.
“Our customers love spice, and they are always pushing us to turn up the heat,” explained Matthew Worsley, who is the Head Development Chef at Iceland Foods.
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“So this time, we have developed a range that will not disappoint.
The meals will exclusively be available from Iceland and The Food Warehouse / Credit: Iceland Foods
“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, but 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 Pepper X meals will arrive in select Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores from Thursday 10 October, with a full rollout across the UK, including online, by Monday 14October.
Featured image – Supplied
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There’s a FREE Children in Need event coming to MediaCityUK
Thomas Melia
An all-new and completely free to enjoy Children in Need event is making its way to MediaCityUK later this November, and it’s bringing along some iconic brands.
Everyone’s favourite yellow bear is returning to Manchester to take over MediaCityUK and rename it Pudsey’s Piazza for one night only.
Pudsey Bear is heading down to MediaCityUK and he’s bringing all the best activities, games, famous food, live music and more for four hours of FREE family-oriented fun.
You can expect to see Pudsey and the team alongside a whole host of celebrities, brand partners and lots of friends when Children in Need hosts its celebration later this November.
Some of the brands which have been announced include staple high street bakery Greggs, a collaboration between McDonald’s and its sports counterpart, Fun Football UK.
DJ AG is just one of the special guests preparing to take over MediaCityUK this November for Children in Need (Credit: Supplied)
Also joining the bill is viral TikTok potato-loving duo Spud Bros, who will be serving up their famed jacket potatoes with an array of fillings to choose from inside their recognisable big red van.
Greggs will be bringing a huge double-decker bus to Pudsey’s Piazza at MediaCityUK with treats on hand throughout this evening celebration, as well as interactive games for you to play.
You’ll also be able to catch a glimpse of a replica Red Arrows jet, which will be situated on the piazza all night long courtesy of aerial experts Royal Air Force.
If that wasn’t enough for you, your night will be soundtracked by the one and only viral nomad music maker DJ AG, who’ll be playing out tunes as part of a charity livestream at the bandstand.
MediaCityUK is the home of BBC Children in Need, so it’s only fitting that Pudsey would throw one of his biggest parties yet right here in Greater Manchester.
Pudsey and his friends are transforming MediaCityUK into Pudsey’s Piazza on Friday, 14 November from 4pm to 8pm, and they’re encouraging anyone to come along, especially since it’s FREE.
Featured Images — David Dixon (via Geograph)/Supplied
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Adventurous cat caught taking a train from Yorkshire to Manchester Airport
Daisy Jackson
Train conductors have reunited an adventurous senior cat with her owners after she was caught taking a train all the way to Manchester Airport.
15-year-old Angel was discovered on board an hour-long TransPennine Express service from West Yorkshire to the airport.
The black-and-white moggy had been strolling along the train making friends with passengers on board, following conductor Will Saunders through the carriages.
It turns out Angel is something of a local legend in Brighouse, and has been caught riding rail replacement buses in the past too, as well as making herself at home in the local pub.
On this occasion, she fancied herself a little holiday and hopped on board the 3.55am service from Brighouse to Manchester Airport.
Will kept a close eye on the gorgeous cat all the way to Manchester Airport, where they settled her into a cardboard box at the station.
Will then took Angel home to Stockport for the night to keep her safe, later discovering a phone number on Angel’s collar.
He and his partner then drove Angel all the way back home to Brighouse.
Will Saunders, conductor at TPE, said: “As a cat lover myself, I couldn’t leave her to fend for herself. She was so calm and confident on the train – it was like she’d done it before!
“I’m just glad we could keep her safe and get her back home. She’s clearly a much-loved cat.”
Andrew McClements, Customer Experience & Transformation Director at TPE, added: “Our teams are used to helping customers reach their destinations, but this was definitely one of our more unusual passengers.
“We’re just glad we could make sure this adventurous feline made it home safely.”
Now back where she belongs, Angel’s tale shows that even the most curious traveller can count on TPE to help them land on their paws.
Emily Sergeant -
9th October 2024 
