Sriracha Fumes Grip Town

Huy Fong Foods began production of their Sriracha sauce last year in a new 655,000-square-foot factory in Irwindale, California. The company had previously made Sriracha in smaller facilities in Rosemead. The company processes a year's worth of chili between September and December. But the chili-processing season is proving to be too much for some residents of Irwindale.

…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 is so aggressive that one family was forced to move a birthday party indoors after the spicy odor descended on the festivities, said Irwindale City Atty. Fred Galante.
The city of Irwindale filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, claiming that the odor was a public nuisance and asking a judge to stop production until the smell can be reduced.

Galante said the court action is necessary because Huy Fong representatives, after cooperating in the beginning, now deny there is a problem. After all, their employees worked closely with the chili and reported no problems. But about 30 Irwindale residents have filed complaints with the city, which wants the factory to come up with a plan to mitigate the odors. A judge is expected to rule on the matter Thursday.