The Los Angeles Department of Health is cracking down on illegal food vendors.

In a recent sweep, the Street Vending Program, which is in charge of enforcement, shut down two street vendors in the Valencia and Newhall areas, as well as two vendors at the Saugus Open Air Market.

“People without permits are not monitored and typically sell food in an unsafe manner; it may be unsanitary, adulterated, or contaminated,” said Terrance Powell, Director of the Bureau of Specialized Surveillance and Enforcement.

In addition to shutting down street vendors, the Street Vending Program also issued hearings to vendors who had permits but were in violation of the law.

“Illegal street vending is proliferating throughout the county,” said Powell.  “What we find typically is the unsafe practices associated with food, and the impact of that is [vendors] getting someone sick or significantly harming others.”

The Street Vending Program operates on complaints made by the public, and Powell says, they often revolve around trash and sanitation issues.