Sriracha lovers, we've got some bad news.
An alleged shortage of chili peppers has led to a crisis at the grocery store leaving many consumers scrambling to get their hands on what has now become a coveted item—Sriracha sauce.
You heard that right.
According to Bloomberg, the maker of the spicy condiment—Huy Fong Foods Inc.—was forced to suspend production of their various spices such as Sriracha, Chili Garlic and Sambal Oelek due to weather conditions affecting the quality of chili peppers.
The company addressed the situation in a statement in April, which read:
"Unfortunately, we can confirm that there is an unprecedented shortage of our products."
“We are still endeavoring to resolve this issue that has been caused by several spiraling events, including unexpected crop failure from the spring chili harvest."
They hoped for a "fruitful fall season" and thanked customers for their patience and support "during this difficult time."
Meanwhile, at grocery stores across the country, panicked customers are stocking up.
And restaurateurs are revisiting their inventory.
The ongoing pandemic interrupting the supply chain combined with the year's conflict in Ukraine has adversely taken a toll on general food production.
The dearth of Sriracha is just the latest example of food shortages that have included Saltine crackers, chicken, popcorn, and McDonald's milkshakes.
The Sriracha shortage is expected to last through the end of summer.
It looks like it's going to be a spiceless season. Is your pantry loaded with the hot stuff?
