Staten Island, NY — Fuel Grill & Juice Bar, located at 4553 Arthur Kill Road, received a score of 46 during a New York City health inspection conducted on March 6, 2026. The score places the juice and smoothie establishment well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C rating, with inspectors documenting a critical food safety violation related to improper cooling of temperature-controlled foods.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 9, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified one critical violation at the Arthur Kill Road location. The violation, coded as 02H, cited the establishment for failing to properly cool time-and-temperature-controlled safe (TCS) foods using an approved method.

Specifically, inspectors found that after cooking or removal from hot holding, TCS food was not being cooled in a manner that reduced the internal temperature from 140°F to 70°F or less within two hours, and from 70°F to 41°F or less within four additional hours. This two-stage cooling process is a foundational food safety requirement designed to minimize the time food spends in the temperature range where bacterial growth occurs most rapidly.

The 46-point score resulted entirely from violations documented during the inspection. No additional non-critical violations were recorded during this visit.

Food Safety Context

The improper cooling of TCS foods is considered one of the most significant risk factors for foodborne illness. According to the FDA Food Code, the temperature range between 41°F and 140°F is commonly referred to as the "danger zone," where bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Clostridium perfringens can multiply rapidly.

NYC Health Code Article 81 requires all food service establishments to maintain proper temperature controls throughout the food handling process, including during the cooling phase. The two-stage cooling method — reducing temperatures from 140°F to 70°F within two hours, then from 70°F to 41°F within an additional four hours — is the standard approved method outlined in both city and federal food safety regulations.

For an establishment that serves juice, smoothies, and fruit salads, proper temperature management is particularly relevant, as many of these products contain perishable ingredients that require consistent cold holding to remain safe for consumption.

The action recorded for this inspection noted that violations were cited in the identified area, and the establishment was not closed as a result of the inspection.

Inspection History

Fuel Grill & Juice Bar's March 2026 inspection represents a notable increase in score compared to its previous recorded inspection. The establishment's prior history with DOHMH includes:

  • 2025-04-02: Score 28 (Grade N)

The April 2025 inspection resulted in a score of 28 with a Grade N designation, which indicates the restaurant was in the process of adjudicating its grade. The current score of 46 represents an increase of 18 points from that prior inspection, indicating a decline in compliance with health code requirements.

A Grade N is assigned when a restaurant scores 28 or above on an initial inspection and has not yet received its final letter grade through the administrative review process. The establishment's progression from a 28 to a 46 suggests that the food safety issues identified during the previous cycle were not fully resolved and may have worsened.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection. Fewer points indicate better compliance with health code requirements:

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

A score of 46 falls significantly into the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, and the better of the two scores determines the final posted grade.

Consumers can verify the inspection results for Fuel Grill & Juice Bar and any other NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly available online. The city's grading system is designed to provide transparency and help diners make informed decisions about where they eat. Inspection results, including violation details and historical scores, are public record and updated regularly as new data becomes available.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Fuel Grill & Juice Bar including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.