Sriracha odor complaints could shut down hot sauce factory

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Jostein Reyes works in the packaging area at Huy Fong Foods Inc. in Irwindale. Huy Fong Foods Inc. is known for its Sriracha hot sauce. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

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Texas state Rep. Jason Villalba, right, tours the Huy Fong Foods plant, maker of Sriracha hot sauce, with founder and Chief Executive David Tran in Irwindale. (Leo Jarzomb / Associated Press)

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David Tran, chief executive and founder of Huy Fong Foods Inc., gives a tour of his facility in Irwindale. Nearby residents have complained about burning eyes, irritated throats and headaches. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

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Salvador Segura oversees hybrid jalapenos unloaded from a truck at Huy Fong Foods Inc. in Irwindale. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

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Wei Wang and Wei Zhang work in the packaging area at Huy Fong Foods Inc. in Irwindale. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

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Sriracha chili sauce is produced at the Huy Fong Foods factory in Irwindale. (Nick Ut / Associated Press)

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William Barrios sweeps the floor while hybrid jalapenos are washed at Huy Fong Foods Inc. in Irwindale. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

By Frank Shyong

Oct. 29, 2013 7:36 AM PT

A Sriracha hot sauce factory in Irwindale may be ordered to halt production this week amid accusations from the city that powerful odors emanating from the facility are causing burning eyes, irritated throats and headaches among nearby residents.

The city is asking a judge to stop production at the hot sauce factory until the company submits a plan of action for mitigating the irritating odors, Irwindale City Atty. Fred Galante said.

“If they fix it and the odor problems stop, we don’t need this order; but so far the odor complaints continue,” said Galante, who said about 30 residents have filed or signed complaints with the city about the odors.

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The smell is so aggressive that one family was forced to move a birthday party indoors after the odor descended on the festivities, Galante said.

The city filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, claiming that the odor was a public nuisance and asking a judge to stop production until the smell can be reduced.

“Given how long it’s going on, we had no choice but to institute this action,” Galante said.

A judge is scheduled to decide whether to grant the order Thursday, he added.

The legal action comes after repeated visits between Irwindale officials and representatives from Huy Fong Foods to discuss methods of reducing the odors, according to the lawsuit.

Huy Fong representatives cooperated at first, but later denied there was an odor problem, saying their employees worked in similar olfactory settings without complaint, Galante said.

Calls and emails to Huy Fong Foods were not immediately returned Monday evening.

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frank.shyong@latimes.com

Twitter: @FrankShyong