Everything You Need To Know About 2022's Sriracha Shortage
If there's one thing Americans love, it's Sriracha, the bright-red hot sauce with a rooster on its bottle, produced by California-based company Huy Fong Foods Inc. But, for fans of the beloved condiment, these next few months might be a struggle. According to an April letter from the company, which only recently began circulating online, Huy Fong Foods is temporarily halting the production of its iconic sauces due to a lackluster chili crop.
The news comes at a time when fears of food shortages are on the rise, thanks to supply chain issues, labor shortages, climate change, and the war in Ukraine, reported The New York Times. The effects of these circumstances on our food supply have yet to be fully realized: According to the USDA, "there are currently no nationwide shortages of food." However, the agency noted that, at this point, "the inventory of certain foods at your grocery store might be temporarily low before stores can restock."
Why is there a Sriracha shortage?
According to the letter from Huy Fong Foods Inc., which was sent to Sriracha retailers on April 19, 2022, the company is currently facing a "severe" shortage of its signature chilis, thanks to weather conditions that affected the outcome of the crop. This is not the first time that customers have had to deal with a shortage of the brand's spicy condiments: As the letter explained, the situation is similar to a chili shortage experienced by the company in July 2020.
Axios confirmed the ongoing shortage with the company, adding that Huy Fong Foods sources its chilis from parts of Mexico that are currently facing drought conditions. As a result, the brand has had to halt the production of its signature Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce, in addition to its Chili Garlic and Sambal Oelek sauces. Any order made to Huy Fong Foods on or after April 19, 2022 has been scheduled for fulfillment after Labor Day, on September 6, 2022. Speaking to Axios, the company said it hopes its production and fulfillment capacities will return to normal in fall 2022.