Bronx, NY — La Salle Grocery, located at 1232 Randall Avenue in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx, received a Grade C score of 29 following a health inspection conducted on September 18, 2007. Inspectors documented one critical violation related to food not being adequately protected from potential sources of contamination.

The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 13, 2026, as part of the agency's ongoing public disclosure of restaurant and food establishment inspection records.

What Inspectors Found

During the inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified a single critical violation under Code 06C: food was not protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service.

This violation addresses situations where food items may be exposed to environmental contaminants, cross-contact with raw ingredients, improper covering, or inadequate separation from non-food items. In grocery and food service settings, this can include uncovered ready-to-eat foods stored near raw products, food items placed in areas where they could come into contact with cleaning chemicals, or insufficient barriers between food and potential sources of contamination.

No non-critical violations were documented during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Food protection from contamination is a foundational requirement under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs the sanitary operation of food service establishments and retail food stores throughout the five boroughs. The regulation aligns with FDA Food Code guidelines that require food to be protected from contamination during all stages of handling, including storage, preparation, display, and service.

The FDA Food Code specifies that food must be protected from cross-contamination by separating raw animal products from ready-to-eat foods, storing food in clean and sanitized containers, and maintaining proper covering during storage and display. These requirements exist because contaminated food can serve as a vehicle for foodborne illness, including bacterial infections from pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria.

A score of 29 places the establishment in the Grade C category, indicating that conditions observed during the inspection reflected a level of non-compliance that warranted the highest violation point range under the city's grading system.

Inspection History

La Salle Grocery's inspection record shows a pattern of fluctuating scores across multiple inspections during the 2007–2008 period:

  • August 28, 2007: Score 49
  • October 12, 2007: Score 28
  • October 31, 2007: Score 11
  • September 18, 2007: Score 29 (current inspection)
  • May 7, 2008: Score 85, closed by DOHMH
  • June 4, 2008: Score 13
  • June 9, 2008: Score 5, reopened
  • July 8, 2008: Score 27 (Grade N)

The record indicates the establishment was subsequently closed by DOHMH in May 2008 after receiving a score of 85, which represented a significant accumulation of violation points. The grocery reopened in June 2008 after a follow-up inspection yielded a substantially improved score of 5. The most recent inspection on record from July 2008 resulted in a score of 27, which fell under a Grade N designation, indicating the score was recorded before or outside the current letter grading cycle.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points accumulated during an inspection:

  • A: 0–13 points (lowest number of violation points)
  • B: 14–27 points (moderate number of violation points)
  • C: 28 or more points (highest number of violation points)

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Establishments that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection to improve their score. Grade cards must be posted in a location visible to the public near the entrance of the establishment.

Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any New York City restaurant or food establishment through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. The database includes inspection dates, scores, violation details, and any enforcement actions taken. Residents who wish to report food safety concerns can contact 311 or visit the city's 311 website to file a complaint.

More About This Restaurant

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