Staten Island, NY — A Dunkin location at 450 Bay Street received a score of 28 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on April 2, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 7, 2026. One critical violation was cited; no non-critical violations were recorded.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation under Code 02G: cold temperature control for safety (TCS) food items held above 41°F, or reduced oxygen packaged TCS foods held above their required storage temperatures except during active necessary preparation.

Cold holding requirements exist because bacterial growth accelerates rapidly when perishable foods rise above safe refrigeration thresholds. Foods covered under Code 02G include dairy, eggs, prepared foods, and other items that must remain continuously refrigerated to limit pathogen growth. A single critical violation of this type was sufficient to push the location's total score to 28, the minimum threshold for a Grade C under New York City's restaurant grading system.

No additional non-critical violations were identified during the same inspection cycle.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes standards for food handling, storage, preparation, and facility sanitation. The program uses a point-based scoring system in which lower scores indicate better compliance — each violation carries a point value based on severity, with critical violations weighted more heavily than non-critical ones.

The FDA Food Code, on which many of Article 81's provisions are based, sets 41°F as the maximum safe holding temperature for most cold TCS foods. Maintaining foods at or below this threshold slows the multiplication of pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli that can cause foodborne illness.

Violations are classified as critical when they represent a direct risk to food safety. Code 02G falls into this category because temperature abuse of cold foods is one of the most frequently cited contributing factors in foodborne illness outbreaks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Inspection History

The April 2, 2026 result represents a notable departure from this location's recent compliance record. The prior five inspections all resulted in Grade A scores:

  • May 1, 2026: Score 9 (Grade A)
  • January 29, 2025: Score 9 (Grade A)
  • January 18, 2024: Score 5 (Grade A)
  • January 12, 2023: Score 11 (Grade A)
  • March 31, 2022: Score 8 (Grade A)

The location's average score across those five prior inspections was approximately 8.4 points, well within Grade A range. The April 2026 inspection score of 28 is the highest recorded score in the available inspection history for this address.

Under DOHMH procedures, a location that scores in Grade B or C range during an initial inspection cycle is typically subject to a reinspection. The grade posted in the window may reflect either the initial inspection score or the reinspection result, depending on timing and the outcome of the reinspection process.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires restaurants to post their most current letter grade in a visible location near the entrance. Grades are assigned based on the total point score from a DOHMH inspection cycle:

  • A: 0 to 13 points (best compliance)
  • B: 14 to 27 points
  • C: 28 or more points

A lower score reflects fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants scoring in Grade B or C range are subject to a follow-up reinspection before a final grade is assigned for public posting.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH online database at nyc.gov/health. Consumers can search inspection history by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type. The most current grade posted at a restaurant may differ from historical inspection data if a reinspection has occurred after the data was released.

More About This Restaurant

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