LOS ANGELES, California: Los Angeles County received 9,746 street food complaints from 2023 through early 2026, according to public records obtained by Fox11.
The 662-page file includes allegations involving rodents, poor food storage, dirty equipment and unsafe handling, but the complaints are public reports and do not prove violations in every case.
One complaint about a taco stand near Hawthorne Boulevard alleged workers lacked hand-washing facilities and failed to change gloves. It also claimed a dog ate meat from a storage bag before food service continued. County records later marked the case “closed.”
Near Los Angeles International Airport, another complaint alleged mice were seen beside open salsa and condiments. That case was listed as “cancelled.”
A separate Venice Beach complaint said hot dogs, buns and condiments were left in the sun for extended periods. Officials marked that complaint “justified,” although the records do not detail any resulting enforcement action.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health requires permitted vendors to follow California food-safety rules covering clean water, sanitation, storage temperatures and protection from contamination.
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The records surfaced as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass directed police to stop issuing criminal citations to street vendors over concerns that some had been issued improperly. The policy does not remove county food-safety requirements or prevent health officials from investigating complaints.
