Judge halts production at embattled hot sauce factory

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Robert H. O'Brien ruled that Huy Fong Foods, makers of the popular chili-based sriracha hot sauce, must partially halt production until the emissions irritating nearby residents are fixed.

Officials from the plant's host city of Irwindale, California, had filed the suit, claiming that the emissions from the facility were irritating and odorous.

Immediate action​

According to Irwindale city attorney Fred Galante, Huy Fong Foods will have to comply with the injunction as soon as Judge O'Brien signs it, which could happen as soon as today.

"The operator will have to cease activities that cause the strong odors until it installs the necessary equipment or system to address the odors​," he said.

However, Judge O'Brien did not spell out in the injunction what specific actions that Huy Fong Foods should take, or halt all operations at the plant entirely.

Huy Fong Foods representatives declined to comment on the ruling.

Health effects​

The city filed suit on October 21, claiming that the factory's emissions were annoying and potentially harmful to local residents.Several citizens claimed the emissions offended their nostrils, burned their eyes and complicated asthma.

According to Galante, no citizens have had to seek medical attention to remedy health problems caused by the emissions. However, many complainants reportedly found the emissions irritating enough that they could not venture outside their homes for extended periods.

Hot sauce fans​

In the month since the suit was first filed, sriracha fans have rallied on its behalf. A number of petitions pleading with the city to drop its suit popped up on sites like Causes.com, commenters shared their alarm on Facebook fan pages.

Additionally, Matthew Inman, the artist behind the popular web comic The Oatmeal, proposed a tongue-in-cheek solution (see comic at left).

In the hours immediately after the ruling was announced late Tuesday night, Internet posters voiced their opinions via social media.

Thousands of commenters took to the Facebook page for ABC7, a television news station in California, with views mostly supporting Huy Fong Foods, with others applauding the city for protecting its citizens.