Brooklyn, NY — Tanya's Apothecary, a juice, smoothie, and fruit salad establishment located at 1531 70th Street in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on March 17, 2026. The inspection yielded a score of 100, placing the establishment in the C grade range under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on March 30, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 17 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one violation at Tanya's Apothecary. While classified as non-critical, the violation contributed to the establishment's final score and was among the factors that led to the closure order.

The single violation cited was under Code 28-06, which addresses pest management requirements. Specifically, inspectors found that the establishment did not have a contract in place with a licensed pest management professional, and records of extermination activities were not maintained on the premises.

Under NYC Health Code requirements, food service establishments are required to maintain active pest management contracts and keep documentation of all extermination activities on-site and available for review during inspections. The absence of such records and a formal professional agreement leaves inspectors without the documentation needed to assess whether a facility is taking adequate preventative steps against pest activity.

It is worth noting that while zero critical violations were recorded during this inspection, the overall score of 100 reflects the weighted point value assigned to the documented violation under the city's scoring methodology. DOHMH's closure action indicates that violations requiring immediate action were identified and addressed at the time of the inspection, per the agency's standard enforcement process.

Food Safety Context

Pest management is a foundational component of food safety compliance for any establishment handling consumable products. This is particularly relevant for businesses serving fresh items such as juices, smoothies, and fruit salads, where ingredients are often handled with minimal processing and served directly to consumers.

NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food safety standards for food service establishments across the five boroughs. Among its provisions, Article 81 requires that establishments implement and document active pest control measures. Pest presence or inadequate prevention protocols can create pathways for contamination of food, food contact surfaces, and preparation equipment.

The FDA Food Code, which informs many of New York City's local food safety standards, similarly emphasizes integrated pest management as a critical operational requirement. Effective pest management programs typically involve licensed professionals conducting scheduled inspections and treatments, maintaining logs of all activities, and promptly addressing any evidence of pest activity.

The absence of a documented pest management contract does not necessarily indicate the presence of pests at the time of inspection — inspectors did not record any direct pest activity as a separate violation. However, the lack of a formal program and recordkeeping means the establishment cannot demonstrate compliance with preventative requirements.

Inspection History

According to data released by DOHMH, no prior inspection history is available for Tanya's Apothecary. This suggests the March 17, 2026 inspection may represent the establishment's first recorded inspection in the DOHMH system, potentially reflecting a new or recently registered business.

  • March 17, 2026: Score 100 (C grade range), closed by DOHMH; 1 non-critical violation cited

Because no prior inspections are on record, there is no historical baseline against which to compare the establishment's compliance performance.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on the total number of points recorded during an inspection. Points are assigned for each violation identified, with critical violations carrying higher point values than non-critical ones. The grades correspond to the following score ranges:

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

A score of 100 falls well within the C range. Establishments that receive a grade of B or C during an initial inspection are typically offered a re-inspection, at which point a letter grade is issued based on the follow-up results. During the period between the initial inspection and the re-inspection, establishments may post a "Grade Pending" notice rather than a letter grade.

Closure orders are issued by DOHMH when inspectors determine that conditions on the premises pose an imminent public health risk, or when specific violations require immediate corrective action before the establishment can safely continue operating. Once the required corrections are made and verified, a closed establishment may apply to reopen.

Resources

Consumers can look up inspection records for any licensed food service establishment in New York City through the DOHMH restaurant inspection results database, available at the NYC Open Data portal. The database is updated regularly and includes scores, violation details, and grade history for establishments across all five boroughs.

Anyone wishing to report a food safety concern at a restaurant or food service establishment can contact 311 or submit a complaint directly through the DOHMH website.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Tanya's Apothecary including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.