Sriracha Hot Sauce Lawsuit Heads To LA Court

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California city's attempt to shut down production of the popular Sriracha chili sauce is heading to court.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge is expected to decide Thursday whether to grant the city of Irwindale's request to cease operations at the Huy Fong Foods factory until the company can reduce the pepper and garlic fumes emanating from the facility.

City officials say residents complained the odor give them headaches, burn their throat and make their eyes water.

Huy Fong executives said they were cooperating with the city to reduce the smell, but balked at the city's suggestion of putting in a new filtration system that would cost $600,000.

The company said it was looking into other alternatives when the city sued.