Maricopa County seizes 7,000 pounds of 'unsafe meat' during crackdown

PHOENIX — Maricopa County officials have seized over 7,000 pounds of "unsafe meat" after responding to more than 100 complaints in the last few months involving local food vendors.

Between May and July, the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department addressed 111 complaints and completed 55 food seizures as part of an effort to hold accountable street food vendors reportedly operating without a permit in the Valley.

The initiative was launched after the county received reports of foodborne illnesses linked to a specific type of mobile food vendor. These vendors in question generally operate in parking lots or on sidewalks and offer "tacos al pastor," which is meat set up on a vertical rotisserie, county officials said.

If the rotisserie is set up outside with a fold-up table or p