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Customers at Cambridge, Mass. eatery waive right to sue, if food's too hot to handle

Sign at the East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Mass. warns "The food is kinda hot" CBS Boston

(CBS) CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - In a world of lawsuits over scalding hot coffee that spills in your lap, and kids' beverages being tainted with alcohol, you can't really blame a Cambridge, Mass. restaurant for requiring customers to sign a waiver, saying they understand they could be putting themselves in danger.

It's a tradition known as Hell Week at the East Coast Grill, which cooks up what some consider the spiciest dish you could ever eat. But before you can even order the Pasta Plate from Hell, you have to agree not to sue, no matter what, reports CBS Boston.

Those who think the waiver is some kind of a publicity stunt only need to look at an incident Tuesday night.

The spicy food forced one man to get medical assistance. An ambulance showed up after witnesses say the man passed out, CBS Boston reported.

Owner Chris Schlesinger created the Pasta Plate from Hell. He says it's aimed at a specific clientele.

"All the people that like hot and spicy food consider themselves gunslingers and they come looking for trouble," he said.

Cameron Butts from the Coast Guard summed up the experience.

"Pain. I can't breathe. I can't talk," he said. "It tastes good at first. Now I can't taste anything," he said.

Fortunately, the restaurant keeps an antidote on hand:  the coveted orange Popsicle - a true lifesaver here.

"I saved another soul," a server cracks.

The secret ingredient of Hell Week is the Naga pepper, one of the hottest peppers on the planet.

Many have tried, but only a handful have eaten the whole bowl of the Pasta Plate from Hell.

And while there have been trips to the hospital, the good news, according to Schlesinger, is that there have been no fatalities so far.

That is good news.

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