The Sriracha hot sauce plant in a Southern California town must temporarily close its doors, after neighbors living in the area complained of the pungent smell.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Robert H. O'Brien instructed Huy Fong Foods to shut down any activity at the factory, after residents of the city of Irwindale filed a suit reporting that the scent was so strong, it had become a public nuisance. The court called for the sauce making company to immediately seek out new procedures to help scale back on the fumes. Huy Fong won't be banned from the property altogether, and wasn't given specific instructions on how to reduce the smell, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The city of Irwindale decided to pursue legal action against Huy Fong Foods after some people living near the factory reported suffering from headaches, sore throats and burning, itchy eyes. Others said they'd been forced to move all outdoor activities indoors, while others still vacated their homes temporarily, waiting to return when the scent subsided.
In his ruling, O'Brien recognized that there appeared to be a "lack of credible evidence" that showed a relation between the smell and the health problems, but acknowledged the smell was "extremely annoying, irritating and offensive to the senses, warranting consideration as a public nuisance."
"We believe it's a strong ruling that acknowledges and is reflective of the concerns of the community has raised about the health impacts of the odor," City Atty. Fred Galante told the Los Angeles Times, adding that the city does not want to stop the sauce from being made completely.
"We're going to try to keep having a conversation with Huy Fong and working out some collaborative way to test and make sure the odor problems are addressed."
In the past, Sriracha officials have maintained that the scent is key for the sauce's signature taste, and compromising the use of fresh peppers, garlic and other heavily scented ingredients might take away from the product's overall taste. But when Judge O'Brien first denied a bid made by the city of Irwindale to shut down the factory in October, the company's founder and chief executive David Tran said he'd be more than willing to work with the residents on ways to curb the fumes.
Sriracha representatives were not available for comment.
