Watch CBS News

Sriracha Maker Forced To Halt Shipments Due To Health Concerns

CITY OF INDUSTRY (CBSLA.com) — A Sriracha maker has been forced to halt shipments of the popular hot sauce until mid-January due to health concerns.

In a statement, the California Department of Public Health said, in part, "…a hold time was necessary to ensure an effective treatment of micro-organisms present in the [Huy Fong Foods] product. Holding products for a period of time at a specified pH level is one method of controlling those micro-organisms."

Huy Fong Foods said via phone that they're complying with the order and there won't be a sauce shortage.

Distributor Damon Chu of Giant Union Co., however, said there's already a shortage. His last hot sauce shipment was Monday and his supply won't even last the week.

"We already have a letter from a customer saying we are their only supplier for this. If we don't give it to them, how are they going to survive?" he said.

Chu said the company could lose up to $400,000 and face lawsuits.

He predicts Sriracha could be gone from restaurants and store shelves by the end of the month.

Chu also questions the governments timing.

"This product has been out there for almost 30 years and now all of a sudden it shut down?" he said.

CBS2's Andrea Fujii reports that the Department of Public Health said the regulation is not a new law and every business must comply.

The city of Irwindale recently sued Huy Fong Foods, claiming odor from its production was making residents sick.

RELATED STORIES:

Sriracha Factory Neighbors Worry Jobs Will Be Lost After Court Ruling

Judge Orders Partial Shutdown Of Sriracha Plant Because Of Odor

Sriracha Plant Faces Fresh Shutdown Effort Over Odor Complaints

Irwindale Business Owners Say Sriracha Factory Delivers 'A Pleasant Scent'

Judge Denies Irwindale's Request To Halt Sriracha Production Over Alleged Odor

Sriracha Factory Closure Could Send Prices Up

Irwindale Sues Makers Of Sriracha Over Smell Generated By Processing Plant

Sriracha Chili Sauce Moving To $40M Bottling Plant In Irwindale

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.