Hot sauce lovers have a special taste for the the sriracha variety, which has garnered something of a cult following over the years. But Huy Fong Foods, the manufacturer of the well-known green-capped variety, revealed that a shortage of Mexican chili peppers has interfered with production. As a result, the brand's sriracha is now exceedingly hard to find. And in the latest example of the power of supply and demand, bottles of the hot sauce are selling for upwards of $90 online. Read on to find out more about the ongoing sriracha shortage.
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The shortage has been going on for over a year.
calimedia / ShutterstockThe sriracha shortage dates back to last year. In April 2022, Huy Fong Foods sent a letter to distributors warning of the "severe shortage" of chili peppers—a key sriracha ingredient. At the time, the company said these issues were the result of weather affecting the quality of chili peppers produced in Mexico, which was experiencing a drought. But while the situation improved for a stint late last year, issues persist this summer.
"Limited production has recently resumed. However, we continue to have a limited supply that continues to affect product availability," a Huy Fong spokesperson told Best Life. "Unfortunately, we are still experiencing a shortage of raw material. 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."
The spokesperson added, "We are grateful for your continued patience and understanding during this unprecedented inventory shortage. We are currently working on trying to avoid future shortages."
Customers are feeling the pain.
SUNG MIN / ShutterstockOn Twitter, many sriracha lovers aired their grievances about the sauce's absence from shelves.
"Why has it been impossible to find sriracha lately," a June 29 tweet reads, with another adding, "The sriracha shortage is actually a travesty."
As a result, some said they're doing what they can to conserve their supply, using limited amounts at a time. "Been holding onto my bottle for dear life making sure not to use too much," a July 10 tweet reads.
While supplies are limited, some bottles of the coveted condiment are still available—but they might not work with your budget.
Prices are skyrocketing.
iStockWhile a 17-ounce bottle of Huy Fong Sriracha typically retails for around $5, this summer, it's become a bit of a luxury item.
One Twitter user posted a photo of the company's sriracha bottles selling for $29.99 in Chicago and $49.99 elsewhere—and those prices seem like a bargain compared to others online.
On June 29, USA Today reported that a dual-pack of 17-ounce bottles was listed for $123.99 on Amazon, which is already out of stock. On eBay, people are shelling out $80.99 for a three-pack of 17-ounce bottles. If you only want one or two bottles, you'll be on the hook for $89.99 each or $85.49 each, respectively.
There are other options if you're willing to switch
darksoul72 / ShutterstockWhile it's probably the most well-known brand, Huy Fong isn't the only sriracha manufacturer on the market. If you can't live without this spicy sauce—and you're willing to branch out—take comfort in the fact that other brands sell sriracha sauces, including both boutique production companies and larger brands like Tabasco.
Some fans have already switched to other brands, but many are loyal to the Huy Fong Foods variety.
"Does anyone have a store near them that still has actual Sriracha?" a Twitter user wrote, attaching a GIF showing the Huy Fong bottles. "I will pay you to buy it and ship it to me because I'm going crazy without it...this shortage is the end of me."
