Los Angeles street food vendors face 9,746 health complaints

A 662-page dossier obtained via public records requests reveals 9,746 public health complaints filed against street food vendors in Los Angeles County between 2023 and early 2026. The allegations include severe sanitary violations such as dogs eating meat from serving bags, the presence of cockroaches and mice near food, raw meat left unrefrigerated in the heat, and individuals urinating near cooking equipment.

The reports emerge following an order from Mayor Karen Bass directing the Los Angeles Police Department to stop issuing criminal citations to street vendors operating without permits. Critics argue this policy shift could lead to unregulated food conditions. Many of the documented complaints, such as those involving improper handwashing or pest infestations, were marked as “closed” or “canceled” without evidence of significant corrective action or enforcement.