For over thirty years Huy Fong Foods, led by its founder David Tran, has manufactured a product of impeccable quality and unmatched flavor. Coming to the United States in 1980, Mr. Tran arrived with a simple dream: “to make enough fresh chili sauce so that everyone who wants Huy Fong can have it. Nothing more”. Needless to say, Sriracha is one of the great American success stories and is now a staple in millions of households and restaurants the world over. From pho to pizza to eggs to meats, Sriracha is the perfect accompaniment to any meal.
Now the people of Irwindale, California want to take Sriracha out of our kitchens and force flavor aficionados to live a life devoid of zest and excitement. In response to spurious claims that a supposed “odor” emanating from the nearby Huy Fong Foods factory constitutes a public nuisance and a lawsuit filed by the residents of Irwindale, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Robert H. O’Brien has ordered the hot sauce maker to partially shut down and to “cease any kind of operations that could be causing the odor”.
This injunction is simply unacceptable and there is great concern that this could lead to widespread Sriracha shortages. Like water or air, many people consider Sriracha not only a necessity but a basic human right. We are hereby asking that this injunction immediately be lifted and that Huy Fong Foods be allowed to continue their business unfettered, in perpetuity. A wise man once said that “the needs of the many outweigh the need of the few”. This axiom holds especially true in this instance. Because of the selfishness and short-sightedness of 1,422 individuals, millions around the world could soon face the reality of life without their beloved Rooster Sauce. Please, do not deprive us of this delicious and much cherished condiment.
