this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2023
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article- The prolonged shortage of a certain red sauce is making the black market go wild.

Prices of Sriracha sauce are as high as $70 on eBay as people look to snap up the spicy sauce — and they’re even steeper on Amazon, up to $124. Huy Fong Foods, which makes the rooster-adorned bottled sauce, has been dealing with a years-long shortage of the chilis, which is hurting production and causing some shortages.

A search on eBay shows prices for various sized bottles ranging from $39.98 for 17-ounce bottles to a 28-ounce bottle for nearly $70. In both instances, shipping is an additional fee, jacking up the price even more.

Prices are even higher on Amazon, where one seller is offering a 2-pack for $124. Of course, it’s unclear if anyone is actually paying these exorbitant prices, considering a 17-ounce bottle typically costs around $5.

The company recently told CNN that it’s still experiencing a shortage of raw materials. “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,” a Huy Fong spokesperson said.

“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 company added.

There’s been a shortage for the past three years, as Huy Fong has said that its chili peppers have consistently been in short supply. Last year, it temporarily stopped orders because of the shortage, which also affected its Chili Garlic and Sambal Oelek products.

Huy Fong’s Sriracha, created in 1980 by Chinese immigrant David Tran, has made its way to the shelves of huge retailers like Target and Whole Foods and has been a fan favorite of consumers since its inception.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I highly recommend trying gochujang sauce as an alternative in the meantime. It's different but scratches a similar itch.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Gouchujang really is the king of all chili pastes.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Mine is very pasty. I don't see myself adding it to food after it is cooked like I'd do with Sriracha. But I never tried it. Maybe if it's warm enough it'll mix well.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

There's one called Bibigo which comes in a squirt bottle and has the right consistency for the job.