Sriracha vs. Govt.

[Chris0nllyn]

Many of you have heard about Sriracha's factory woes out in California.

Increased scrutiny of entrepreneur David Tran's Huy Fong Foods, manufacturer of the iconic squeeze-bottle Sriracha sauce, has now extended to the product itself, and the California Department of Public Health has ordered that all outgoing shipments be held back for 30 days. Because the condiment is made from a raw, fermented mash of jalapeños, garlic, and vinegar that isn't cooked, it is subject to health codes that require proof the sauces don't harbor any potentially illness-inducing pathogens. The Irwindale, California, factory already faces a shutdown over nuisance complaints from the public, who say the neighborhood is often permeated with offensive, peppery odors.

"The regulations outlining this process have been in existence for years, but the modified production requirements were established for the firm this year,"

http://www.grubstreet.com/2013/12/sriracha-shoratge-begins.html

A 30 day hold will let officials test the product to make sure there is no growth of microorganisms in the sauce. The pH level in the sauce must be at a certain number to reduce bacterial growth. Bacteria do not grow in lower pH level ingredients.

While no recall has been ordered and no pathogenic bacteria have been found in the sriracha, a new manufacturing process must be tested before the product can be sold to the public.

Residents in Irwindale, California, where the Huy Fong Foods plant is located, are also complaining about emissions from the plant, which they say are irritating and smelly. A judge ruled in favor of the residents, shutting down the plant until owners can reduce omissions.

http://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/2013/sriracha-sauce-producer-shut-down-for-a-month/

About 4 years ago, Huy Fong Foods (the makers of Sriracha) moved to Irwindale, CA.

Huy Fong Foods, best known as the maker of Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce with a rooster depicted on the label, broke ground this week on a 655,000-square-foot, $40-million headquarters and factory in Irwindale.

The project will nearly triple the space occupied by Huy Fong, which now operates out of two buildings in Rosemead that it will give up when the new facility is finished.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/09/business/la-fi-hot-sauce-20101009

Not too long after production started, complaints rolled in. The city, which had welcomed Huy Fong Foods, soon filed a nuisance lawsuit against the company. Eventually, a judge ruled that the company could continue operating.

http://www.grubstreet.com/2013/10/great-day-to-be-a-bottle-of-sriracha.html

A month later, the judge reversed his decision.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/...iracha-20131126,0,7404487.story#axzz2lg4Bszfk

Now, it's worth noting what the Irwindale area is. It's a small, industrialized town outside of LA. They have a population of only 1,500, but 40,000 people work there. Less than 1% of Irwindale’s land is used for residential purposes. Yet 43% of land is used for industrial purposes and 31% of the land is open space. Roads take up more space in Irwindale than housing.

http://www.ci.irwindale.ca.us/Index.aspx?NID=262

All that being said, in 2007, they had 134 city employees, a police force of 27, and a monthly payroll of about $777,000.

http://www.city-data.com/city/Irwindale-California.html

They have had an odd relationship from the get-go.

It is a strange tale. As Tran has told it, Irwindale actually lobbied to get Huy Fong to move from its old digs in Rosemead to Irwindale, which it did in 2010. But when Tran got a bad feeling about initial odor complaints he decided to take preemptive action.

He was essentially paying Irwindale for $250,000 a year for 10 years to use the factory. But he surprised City Hall by buying it outright, depriving Irwindale of millions in future rent.

Most of the odor complaints have come from four nearby homes, one of which is occupied by the relative of a city councilman. That councilman, Hector Ortiz, recused himself from discussion and voting on the matter because, he says, he owns property near the plant.

At the same time, the city was looking to sell property it owns next door to Huy Fong to a waste-management facility, which could be ironic given the odors sometimes associated with those kinds of facilities.

http://www.laweekly.com/informer/20...nsiders-moving-as-san-fernando-valley-beckons

Well, now Huy Fong Foods is mulling over moving operations to a more business friendly state.

Huy Fong Foods' Executive Operations Officer Donna Lam said that Alabama, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Kansas, Ohio, Georgia, Iowa, Arizona, New Mexico and West Virginia have offered to host factories. A cadre of local officials also have thrown their support behind the hot sauce maker, including state Sen. Ed Hernandez.

U.S. Rep. Tony Cardenas, whose district includes the San Fernando Valley, joined the chorus of voices clamoring to host Sriracha production on Wednesday.

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-sriracha-20140417,0,6897133.story#axzz2z3TAy2Ob

Yet Irwindale's lawyer doesn't know why.

Irwindale City Atty. Fred Galante said he was confused and disappointed by Tran's actions. Galante said Irwindale officials just want an action plan to be submitted, and Tran has not proposed any solutions for the city to reject.

"This seems very extreme," Galante said. "It's disappointing given that [air quality officials] have explained that there are readily available solutions."

http://www.laweekly.com/informer/20...nsiders-moving-as-san-fernando-valley-beckons

Maybe it's because Irwindale is suing Huy fong Foods?

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2014/jan/31/breach-contract-claim-added-nuissance-suit-against/

 

[migtig]

What BS. I'd move my company too.

BTW, there is no way Sriracha has any bad bacteria. The vinegar kills it all off. Actually, if you can't breathe take a spoonful of sriracha - clear you right up. But I see this new inspection stuff as a way to force Huy Fong to pay up or else.

That company would be loved and appreciated elsewhere.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

What BS. I'd move my company too.

BTW, there is no way Sriracha has any bad bacteria. The vinegar kills it all off. Actually, if you can't breathe take a spoonful of sriracha - clear you right up. But I see this new inspection stuff as a way to force Huy Fong to pay up or else.

That company would be loved and appreciated elsewhere.

Not to mention they've been distributing Sriracha for 30 years without a single complaint or shutdown due to bacteria.

Rung after rung after rung on the ladder of govt. It's all under the guise of making sure everything is fair. In reality, they get in the way and use these regulations (and regulation changes) to snuff out legitimate business.

I hope Huy Fong leaves a big ass 655,000 sq. ft. empty building.

 

[vraiblonde]

I have a lifetime supply of sriracha. They can do what they want now.

If that stuff made you sick I'd have been dead a long time ago.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

I have a lifetime supply of sriracha. They can do what they want now.

If that stuff made you sick I'd have been dead a long time ago.

I bought a bunch when there was a shortage, hoping I could make a quick buck (Same with Twinkies whent hey went under).

Now I've got a massive supply of hot sauce and twinkies........and I hate both.

 

[vraiblonde]

I bought a bunch when there was a shortage, hoping I could make a quick buck (Same with Twinkies whent hey went under).

Now I've got a massive supply of hot sauce and twinkies........and I hate both.

Collect what you love, not what you think will increase in value.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

Collect what you love, not what you think will increase in value.

Significant other doesn't like strippers hanging out around the house.

 

[Hijinx]

Maybe the stench is killing a turtle.

 

[vraiblonde]

Significant other doesn't like strippers hanging out around the house.

How unreasonable.

 

[GURPS]

I' would move the factory somewhere else, in a remote region .... with damn few neighbors