Tortilla Fryers Cooled

Officials of a Canoga Park tortilla plant that generated complaints about noise and air pollution have agreed to limit operations and meet regularly with area residents.

The agreement between Mission Foods and the South Coast Air Quality Management District came after a month of negotiations. Mission Foods agreed to turn off its ovens and deep-fat fryers between 4 and 7:30 every evening. The company had been operating around the clock.

Mission Foods, which makes corn and flour chips and tortillas, also faces criminal charges filed in August by the Los Angeles city attorney’s office. The company is accused of violating state air- and noise-pollution laws by allowing odors from cooking oil and tortillas to escape from its Deering Avenue plant.