Saltine cracker challenge

[5][6][7] A 1996 AP story used the challenge to illustrate the competitive nature and persistence of the Tennessee Volunteers' quarterback at the time, Peyton Manning.

"[8] Before the 2001–2002 season, Penn State Lady Lions basketball coach Rene Portland's cracker-eating ability helped her land star players Tanisha Wright and Jessica Calamusso.

During a recruiting trip, the high schoolers' Amateur Athletic Union coach mentioned the cracker challenge; Wright failed but Portland succeeded.

[4][13][14][15] In a July 2008 episode of Good Morning America, Ted Allen revealed that the Food Detectives techs were unable to eat six saltines in a minute.

Older versions of the challenge include events where one competes to be the first person to eat some number of crackers and then audibly whistle a tune.

[16] A 1970s episode of the educational television show ZOOM, which encouraged children to try creative puzzles and games using minimal supplies, featured such a race.

Again, this is a small amount of familiar food, but it quickly dries out the mouth's saliva, making the powder hard to swallow.

[2] Furthermore, the presence of the aldehyde cinnamal in the essential oil of the cinnamon powder often irritates the skin and mucous membranes, adding further difficulty to the challenge.