On Monday, the City of Irwindale asked a Superior Court judge to halt production of the Sriracha hot chili sauce at the Huy Fong Foods Factory located within the city limits.
Irwindale Councilman H. Manuel Ortiz has received an onslaught of complaints from residents concerning the smell.
According to the Los Angeles Times, “residents are complaining of burning eyes, irritated throats and headaches caused by a powerful, painful odor that the city says appears to be emanating from the factory during production.” The smell was so pungent that it forced a family to relocate birthday facilities indoors, according to Irwindale City Attorney Fred Galante.
“We’re hoping to work with the company, with the manufacturing company, to minimize the smell or to completely get rid of that smell,” Ortiz said to Pasadena Star News.
Last week, the City Council held a special closed session meeting in order to discuss the potential of engaging in litigation with Huy Fong Foods. City leaders had previously met with Huy Fong Foods on several occasions in order to reach an out-of-court solution to reducing the overpowering odor.
“It’s like having a plate of chili peppers shoved right in your face,” said Ruby Sanchez to Fox News.
“Given how long it’s going on, we had no choice but to institute this action,” Galante said to the Times.
Sriracha is a Vietnamese-style hot chili sauce made from chili peppers, garlic, salt, sugar and vinegar. It has enjoyed substantial market success since its introduction in 1980.
The City of Irwindale is a small industrial city with less than 2,000 residents in the San Gabriel Valley. Previously located in Rosemead, Huy Fong Foods relocated the majority of its operations to its 655,000 sq. foot Irwindale factory last year.
In addition to coverage by local community papers, the ordeal has attracted the attention of the Los Angeles Times, Fox News, Washington Post and the national web outlet, Gawker.
Read more about Irwindale’s plight at Pasadena Star News.