Manhattan, NY — Juke Box Juice & Salad, a juice and smoothie establishment located at 1943 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard in Harlem, received a score of 34 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 2, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest letter grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system.
Juke Box Juice & Salad restaurant inspection" width="400" height="225" loading="eager" decoding="async" class="article-featured-image">The inspection identified one critical violation and no non-critical violations. The data was released by DOHMH on March 4, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited the establishment for a critical violation under code 03A: food from an unapproved or unknown source. This violation category covers several related food safety concerns, including the use of home-canned or home-prepared food products, animal slaughter or butchering on premises, Reduced Oxygen Packaged (ROP) fish that was not frozen before processing, and ROP food prepared on premises and transported to another site.
Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, all food served in commercial food service establishments must come from approved, inspectable sources. This requirement exists to ensure that food products have been processed, stored, and transported under conditions that meet established safety standards. Food from unapproved or unknown sources may not have undergone required safety procedures such as proper temperature control, pathogen testing, or sanitary handling practices.
The violation is classified as critical because food sourced outside approved supply chains poses a direct risk to consumer health. Without verified sourcing, there is no assurance that products meet the safety standards required for commercial food service.
Food Safety Context
The requirement for approved food sources is one of the foundational principles of food safety regulation. NYC Health Code Article 81 mandates that all food served to the public must be obtained from sources that comply with applicable laws and regulations. The FDA Food Code, which serves as the model for many local health codes, similarly requires that food be obtained from approved sources.
For juice and smoothie establishments, sourcing requirements apply to all ingredients, including fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and any prepared items used in menu offerings. Approved sources include licensed food manufacturers, permitted food processing plants, and regulated distributors that operate under government inspection.
When food is obtained from unapproved sources, health authorities cannot verify that proper food safety protocols were followed during production, storage, and transportation. This includes critical steps such as maintaining appropriate temperatures, preventing cross-contamination, and ensuring that products are free from harmful pathogens or contaminants.
Inspection History
A review of the establishment's prior inspection record shows that Juke Box Juice & Salad had previously maintained good standing with DOHMH:
- December 4, 2024: Score 13 (Grade A)
- September 13, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)
Both prior inspections resulted in Grade A scores, indicating that the establishment had previously met the city's highest standards for food safety compliance. The March 2026 score of 34 represents a notable departure from this track record.
Under the city's inspection cycle, the establishment may be subject to a re-inspection, at which point it will have the opportunity to address the cited violation and potentially achieve a lower score.
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:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Critical violations carry higher point values than general (non-critical) violations due to the greater potential risk to public health.
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, and the grade posted publicly reflects the better score between the two inspections. Establishments may also contest their scores through an administrative tribunal process.
Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. The database provides detailed information about violations cited, inspection dates, and current letter grades for all inspected food service establishments in the city.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Juke Box Juice & Salad including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.