Yes, There’s a Sriracha Shortage—Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’ve gone to the grocery store recently and noticed Sriracha missing from the shelf, you’re not the only one. Huy Fong Foods, the company famous for its green-capped bottles of Sriracha, doesn’t have enough chiles to make its sauce, causing a major Sriracha shortage. That means some retailers are out of stock.

Here’s what you need to know about the shortage—and when to expect the sauce back on the shelves.

Why Is There a Sriracha Shortage?

In 2020, Huy Fong Foods, like many other companies, faced the repercussions of supply chain issues and an ingredients shortage. While the company was able to get things back on track and give customers some relief, Huy Fong recently announced that it’s facing inventory shortages once again.

The drought conditions in Mexico affected the amount of chiles they’ve been able to grow. LA Times reports that Huy Fong “typically uses about 50,000 tons of chiles a year”, and shortcomings from Mexico’s droughts have affected the company’s ability to keep up with production.

When Will the Sriracha Shortage End?

Unfortunately, like the weather, this Sriracha shortage is unpredictable. According to USA Today, Huy Fong doesn’t have an estimate of when it will see an increase in inventory. The company hopes to avoid future shortages, but at the moment, it’s a waiting game on when product will be back in stock.

What to Do in the Meantime

Some grocery stores put limits on how many Sriracha bottles shoppers can purchase at one time so stock doesn’t run out too fast. But if you shop at a store with a fully stocked shelf and no purchase limits, be kind and leave some behind for other Sriracha lovers.

If you can’t live without that rooster sauce on your avocado toast or salmon rice bowl, don’t worry—we have options. Luckily, you can find plenty of copycat sauces at grocery stores, like Weak Knees Gochujang Sriracha Hot Sauce. You can also make your own hot chili pepper sauce at home.