The Sriracha Shortage Is Back: How Fans Will Be Impacted
Fans of Sriracha sauce better hang on tight to whatever supply they have, because the shortage is back again.
Last June, the California-based company Huy Fong Foods shared that it was facing an "unprecedented shortage" of its products, and in particular, its Sriracha, Chili Garlic, and Sambal Oelek sauces, as shared in a statement to Food & Wine.
The shortage was caused by multiple factors, including bad weather and crop failure, and Huy Fong Foods hoped for a better harvest in the fall.
While the fall harvest did improve the situation somewhat, the shortage is ongoing this summer, with the company confirming the continued lack of supplies in a recent statement to DailyMail.com.
Huy Fong Foods said: "Unfortunately, we are still experiencing a shortage of raw material. Although some production did resume this past fall season, we continue to have a limited supply that continues to affect our production. At this time, we have no estimations of when supply will increase."
"Because we do not sell directly to retail/market levels, we cannot determine when the product will hit shelves again and/or who currently has the product in stock. We are grateful for your continued patience and understanding during this unprecedented inventory shortage. We are currently working on trying to avoid future shortages," the statement read.
Because of the extensive shortage, the price of remaining supplies has skyrocketed.
While it's not available to buy on sites like Walmart.com and Target.com, sellers on sites like eBay are racking up the price, with current listings for one 28 oz. bottle generally standing between $30 and $50, as of writing. In comparison, the listing for a 28 oz. bottle at Target.com was $5.29 when it was in stock.
San Francisco restaurants are even seeing bottles get stolen, as reported by SFGate.
With any luck, the shortage won't continue too much longer, and fans of Sriracha sauce can get back to their regularly scheduled enjoyment.
Next: Here's What Happens to Your Body If You Eat Hot Sauce Every Day
