After weeks of a judicial tug of war, Huy Fong foods, producer of the popular Sriracha hot sauce, has been ordered to shut down part of its production facility. Residents in the Irwindale, Calif., neighborhood complained that the smell of the chili peppers used in Sriracha was burning their eyes and causing respiratory problems. The company was told to shut down the parts of the factory that are likely causing the smell to emanate from the factory until the problem is resolved. Irwindale City Attorney Fred Galante said:
We believe it's a strong ruling that acknowledges and is reflective of the concerns that the community has raised about the health impacts of the odor.