Sriracha Irwindale Factory to Shutdown, Odor Causes Complaints

By James Brown | Oct 30, 2013 12:46 PM EDT

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Irwindale City filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday against the sauce-making company Huy Fong Foods claiming that its popular Sriracha sauce smell is making people in the are to get watery eyers and burning throats.

The odor coming out of the plant, that produces 200,000 daily bottles of Sriracha, can even being noticed at City Hall.

"It's pretty strong," John Davidson, Irwindale City Manager, told L.A. Times. "I had noticed the odor both at City Hall and just outside the plant."

In the other side, David Tran, Chief Executive and founder of the company, told L.A. Times he is doing what he can already adding filters to its vents twice.

"Chiles are pungent for a reason, it makes for a better sauce," he said. "If it doesn't smell, we can sell."

Further, David warned the price of Sriracha will jump a lot if the city shut them down.

"It's like having a plate of chili peppers shoved right in your face," Ruby Sanchez, who lives across the street from the plant.

"We walk the dog, we mow the lawn, it doesn't bother us," said Kathy Galaz, resident in the area who can see the factory from her front door.

The brand new plant of $40 million and 650,000 square-foot opened two years ago bringing about 60 full-time jobs and 200 more seasonal to the city of 1,400 people.

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