California city declares Sriracha maker a nuisance

A Southern California city has declared the factory that produces the popular Sriracha hot sauce a public nuisance.

The Irwindale City Council’s vote on Wednesday gives the factory 90 days to make changes to stop the spicy odors that prompted complaints from some residents last fall. Declaring a public nuisance will allow the city officials to enter the plant and make changes.

The decision came despite testimony by air-quality experts that progress was being made toward a resolution.

Attorney John Tate, who represents Sriracha maker Huy Fong foods, said the company had committed to fix the problem by June 1. He called the public nuisance declaration an example of the city “flexing its muscle and thumbing Huy Fong in the eye.”

A call to Irwindale’s city attorney was not immediately returned.