Manhattan, NY — 326 Fresh Stop, a juice and smoothie shop located at 326 Audubon Avenue in Washington Heights, received a Grade B score of 24 following a health inspection conducted on October 22, 2025. The score places the establishment near the upper boundary of the Grade B range, just three points below the Grade C threshold of 28.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 6, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors identified one critical violation during the inspection:

  • Wiping cloths not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses (Violation Code 06F).

This violation relates to the handling and storage of cloths used to wipe down food preparation surfaces, equipment, and counters. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, wiping cloths must be kept in an approved sanitizing solution when not actively in use, or stored clean and dry. Cloths that are left out between uses without proper sanitization can harbor bacteria and contribute to cross-contamination.

No non-critical violations were documented during the inspection.

Food Safety Context

While a single critical violation may appear minor, the resulting score of 24 out of a possible Grade B range of 14–27 indicates that the violation carried significant point weight under the DOHMH scoring system. Critical violations are those that are most likely to contribute to foodborne illness and are weighted more heavily than general or non-critical violations.

For a juice, smoothie, and fruit salad establishment, sanitation practices are particularly relevant. These businesses handle fresh produce that is often consumed raw, and improper surface sanitation increases the risk of bacterial transfer to ready-to-eat items.

The FDA Food Code specifies that wiping cloths used for food-contact surfaces must be stored in a sanitizing solution of appropriate concentration between uses. The NYC Health Code Article 81 enforces these standards through the city's inspection and grading system.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available for 326 Fresh Stop in the DOHMH public records. This may indicate that the October 2025 inspection was the establishment's initial or cycle inspection, or that earlier records are not reflected in the current dataset.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points documented during an inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations:

  • A: 0–13 points
  • B: 14–27 points
  • C: 28 or more points

A score of 24 falls in the upper portion of the Grade B range. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to correct violations and potentially earn a higher grade.

Restaurants are required to post their current letter grade in a conspicuous location near the entrance, per DOHMH regulations.

Public Resources

Consumers can look up the inspection history of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant grading search portal. The data used in this report is sourced from public records made available by the City of New York. Inspection records reflect conditions observed at the time of the inspection and may not represent current conditions at the establishment.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for 326 Fresh Stop including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.