Sriracha Hot Chilli sauce recalled over exploding bottle fears

Authorities in Australia and New Zealand have told customers to return bottles and get a refund

Sophie Gallagher
Friday 27 December 2019 07:05 EST
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(Getty Images)

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Sriracha Hot Chilli sauce has been recalled by authorities in Australia and New Zealand over concerns that bottles could “explode” when opened.

The joint food standards agency for both countries, warned some bottles could build up lactic acid and then “bloat” and “continue to ferment”.

This would mean when opened they could splatter people or property, potentially irritating skin or eyes if it were to make contact.

“Do not open bottles that feel bloated and return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund,” the Food Standards Australia New Zealand says on its website.

The Food Standards Agency for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland has not issued a recall on any of the bottles.

Created in 1980 by Vietnamese refugee David Tran, who moved to the United States, Sriracha is made from chillies, vinegar and garlic, and is now sold widely around the world.

Tesco and other big name UK supermarkets started selling the sauce in 2014. At the time, sales of hot sauces were estimated to be rising 7 per cent year on year in Britain.

The recall applies to 502ml (17oz) and larger 828ml (28oz) sized bottles with a best before date of March 2021.

This isn’t the first time Sriracha has been recalled on similar grounds – the condiment faced a similar recall in Ireland in November.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland recalled a batch of the product due to the risk of “contents exploding once the bottle is opened”.

In 2013 there was a “global shortage”, and the following year, officials in California declared the product a public nuisance in what fans dubbed the “srirachocalypse”.

Officials in Irwindale city, where the manufacturer was based, declared the sauce a public nuisance because of the smell from the factory.

The Independent has contacted the Food Standards Agency UK for a comment.

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