Critical Violation Code 02A NYC Health Code §81.09

Food not cooked to required minimum temperature — NYC Health Violation 02A

Overview

Violation code 02A — Food Not Cooked to Required Minimum Temperature — is a critical temperature control violation cited 278 times across NYC since health inspections began tracking this data, with Manhattan accounting for the majority of cases. Inadequate cooking temperatures allow harmful bacteria to survive in potentially hazardous foods, making this a direct cause of foodborne illness outbreaks that can result in severe illness or death. Restaurants must maintain proper internal temperatures for all animal proteins, eggs, and other high-risk foods to prevent this violation and protect public health.

278
Times Cited in NYC
0.25%
of Inspections
Critical
Severity Level
Manhattan
Most Common Borough

What is Violation 02A?

All potentially hazardous foods must be cooked to proper internal temperatures to kill harmful bacteria

What restaurants must do to fix this

Cook to minimum temps: Poultry 165°F, Ground meat 158°F, Pork/Beef/Lamb 145°F, Eggs 145°F, Fish 145°F

CDC Risk Factor: Inadequate Cooking

NYC DOHMH Guidelines → CDC Food Safety Reference →

Which Boroughs See Violation 02A Most?

Manhattan
113 citations
Brooklyn
79 citations
Queens
70 citations
Bronx
14 citations
Staten Island
2 citations

Restaurants Cited for Violation 02A (278 total)

POSEIDON
279 FLATBUSH AVENUE, Brooklyn
GRADE A
Nov 22, 2025
Score: 12
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL
275 GREENWICH STREET, Manhattan
GRADE A
Nov 18, 2025
Score: 10
SAHARA TURKISH GRILL
532 NEPTUNE AVENUE, Brooklyn
GRADE Z
Nov 17, 2025
Score: 64
LINDENS
2 RENWICK STREET, Manhattan
GRADE Z
Nov 12, 2025
Score: 42
GREEN GARDEN
22-20 154 STREET, Queens
Nov 10, 2025
Score: 30
NEW GREAT WALL
4425 5 AVENUE, Brooklyn
GRADE A
Nov 6, 2025
Score: 12
JIMBO'S HAMBURGER PALACE
117 DYCKMAN STREET, Manhattan
Nov 3, 2025
Score: 34
MEADOWSWEET
149 BROADWAY, Brooklyn
GRADE A
Nov 1, 2025
Score: 12
CESAR
333 HUDSON STREET, Manhattan
GRADE A
Oct 28, 2025
Score: 12
FORDHAM SEAFOOD & CHICKEN
2468 GRAND CONCOURSE, Bronx
Oct 27, 2025
Score: 20
SMILE TO GO
22 HOWARD STREET, Manhattan
GRADE Z
Oct 24, 2025
Score: 35
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL
70-30 AUSTIN STREET, Queens
Oct 20, 2025
Score: 19
TOURMALINE / MY KITCHEN
106-17 METROPOLITAN AVENUE, Queens
Oct 18, 2025
Score: 30
101 KTV BAR LOUNGE
135-25 NORTHERN BOULEVARD, Queens
GRADE N
Oct 17, 2025
Score: 41
SUSAN'S KITCHEN CATERING AND EVENTS
32 WEST 39 STREET, Manhattan
GRADE Z
Oct 16, 2025
Score: 24
MAY WAH FAST FOOD
190 HESTER STREET, Manhattan
GRADE C
Oct 7, 2025
Score: 32
WOK IN THE CLOUDS
127 EAST 28 STREET, Manhattan
CLOSED
Sep 30, 2025
Score: 95
WOK IN THE CLOUDS
127 EAST 28 STREET, Manhattan
CLOSED
Sep 30, 2025
Score: 95
JING LI
27-35 JACKSON AVENUE, Queens
Sep 18, 2025
Score: 46
SIX HAPPINESS
1413 2 AVENUE, Manhattan
GRADE Z
Sep 11, 2025
Score: 44

Related Temperature Control Violations

02G Cold TCS Food Held Above 41°F Critical 20,403 cited 02B Hot TCS Food Not Held at 140°F or Above Critical 17,511 cited 02H Food Not Cooled by Approved Method Critical 3,102 cited 02C NYC Health Code Violation 02C Critical 377 cited 02I NYC Health Code Violation 02I Critical 207 cited 02F NYC Health Code Violation 02F Critical 180 cited

Browse all 131 violation codes →

Violation 02A: Frequently Asked Questions

What is violation 02A in NYC restaurants?
All potentially hazardous foods must be cooked to proper internal temperatures to kill harmful bacteria
How serious is violation 02A?
Critical violation. Undercooked food is a leading cause of foodborne illness, potentially causing severe illness or death
How many NYC restaurants have been cited for violation 02A?
278 NYC restaurant inspections have included violation 02A, representing 0.25% of all inspections with violations.
Which borough has the most violation 02A citations?
Manhattan has the highest number of violation 02A citations among NYC boroughs.
What must a restaurant do to fix violation 02A?
Cook to minimum temps: Poultry 165°F, Ground meat 158°F, Pork/Beef/Lamb 145°F, Eggs 145°F, Fish 145°F
Is violation 02A a critical violation?
Yes, violation 02A is a critical violation. Critical violations pose the most serious risk to public health and must be corrected immediately.