Stock Up On Sriracha...Before It Disappears

Something horrible is happening...you may want to sit down for this. The Huy Fong sriracha factory in Irwindale, California has 90 days to “change” or else they will be shut down for good. I repeat: the Huy Fong sriracha factory could be shut down for good, as in, this might be the end of your favorite version of the greatest condiment known to man. I told you it was horrible.

As you may know, this isn’t the first time our beloved Huy Fong sriracha has been in trouble. Last October, the Irwindale City Council filed a suit against Huy Fong Foods because of an “odor” that caused the nearby residents to experience headaches, burning eyes, and coughing fits. Seeing as the issue quanlified as a "public nuisance" the city asked the Los Angeles County Superior Court to ban production of the sauce until Huy Fong Foods submitted a plan to prevent fumes from bothering residents.

The good news? By the time a judge ordered them to stop production, the company's annual "pepper-grinding" season — a three-month operation which runs from August through October — had just ended.

The bad news: complaints persisted — a majority of which came from four households according data provided by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) — and on Wednesday night the Irwindale City Council took action. The factory now has 90 days to change it's ways and prevent the fumes from bothering nearby residents... or else. All of this occurred despite a testimony by the AQMD declaring progress had been made as far as air-quality in the area..

Fortunately, Huy Fong Foods is taking action. Business Insider mentions Attorney John Tate, the company's attorney, said they started working with the AQMD on a filtration system when the complaints began last fall. Whew!

I'm pretty confident the condiment will make it through, although it may be wise to stock up now. You know, just in case.