When you buy a bottle of Sriracha, you expect it’ll make your mouth explode with flavor and spice. What probably don’t expect is that the bottle will actually explode. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s happening in Australia and New Zealand right now.
The countries are recalling Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce due to concerns the bottles might “explode” when you open them. It’s all due to a build up of lactic acid that can cause the bottles to bloat and "continue to ferment," according to Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
That can make the bottle literally explode, getting hot sauce everywhere. And, while you might have hot sauce-loving dreams of swimming in a river of Sriracha, the actual reality of being covered in hot chili sauce could be a little…painful.
If you happen to find yourself in Australia or New Zealand, you’re not stuck living a Sriracha-free existence: Only the 17-ounce and 28-ounce bottles with an expiration date of March 2021 should be trashed, Food Standards Australia New Zealand says. If a bottle looks or feels bloated, you might want to cover it with a plastic bag and treat it like the hazmat it is, just to be on the safe side.
While the recall doesn’t impact the U.S., it’s probably a good idea to check your Sriracha bottles for bloating in the future given that this type of recall has happened before. Last month, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland pulled bottles of Sriracha due to fears of “the contents exploding once the bottle is opened.”
No one said being a sriracha fan was easy.
