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A hot sauce factory in Los Angeles is being asked to close shop, according to The Huffington Post. The manufacturers of Sriracha chili sauce have been accused of disturbing the neighbors living close to the factory with offensive odors, respiration problems and watery eyes. The company believes there is no reason to shut down because it is no longer harvest time and super-hot Jalapeno peppers, the main ingredient in the sauce, are out of season. They claim they will have no urgent need to be grinding the peppers. People have complained against the company, but there is no real evidence that holds up in court.
Although Huy Fong Foods did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press or Times, a judge has given a splash of cold water to the hot sauce company, Sriracha.
According to Huffington Post Business, Superior Court Judge Robert H. O’Brien ruled in favor of the city of Irwindale where Sriracha recently relocated, in Los Angeles, saying the hot sauce maker Huy Fong Foods must stop any operations that could be producing the odors and make changes to moderate them. Irwindale officials commended the decision.
The company and the nation’s hot sauce supply are in no real jeopardy. Local judge, Robert H. O’Brian, has not held the less than impressive evidence against the company, but has said that the scent can be “reasonably inferred to be emanating from the facility” Judge Robert H. O’Brien acknowledges that there was a “lack of credible evidence” that the spicy Sriracha odor is what causing the physical symptoms, but calls the fiery fumes a “public nuisance.” The aroma is “extremely annoying, irritating and offensive to the senses.”
Attorney Fred Galante agrees and commented, “We believe it’s a strong ruling that acknowledges and is reflective of the concerns that the community has raised about the health impacts of the odor.” The case may still go to trial, but the city would rather have a settlement and does not wish to close down the factory.
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The judge has ordered the Sriracha hot sauce plant in California to partially shut down, but it’s unclear which parts of the factory will have to shut down and what that will mean for next year’s supply of the popular condiment. Tuesday’s order demands the company to both shut down operations that might be causing the smell, and make changes to try to prevent the smell from happening in the future.
Fans of the red rooster sauce will be relieved that Huy Fong Foods, the maker of Sriracha, was not ordered to cease operations altogether — although the penalty could still cause the price to go up for the first time ever.
David Tran, owner of Huy Fong Foods which produces the chili sauce, new has a new $50 million 650,000 square foot factory in Irwindale where he plans to move his company, the maker of the famous Sriracha chili sauce, according to the Denver Post.
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