Hot TCS Food Not Held at 140°F or Above — NYC Health Violation 02B
Violation code 02B—Hot TCS Food Not Held at 140°F or Above—is a critical temperature control violation that occurs when hot potentially hazardous foods are stored below 140°F. This creates dangerous conditions in the bacterial "danger zone" (41–140°F), where pathogens like Clostridium perfringens multiply rapidly; at 120°F, this bacterium can double every 10 minutes and reach illness-causing levels within one hour. Hot holding violations are responsible for approximately 40% of restaurant foodborne illness outbreaks in NYC and nationally, making proper temperature maintenance one of the most essential food safety practices.
What is Violation 02B?
Hot potentially hazardous foods must be maintained at 140°F or above to prevent rapid bacterial growth in the danger zone (41-140°F).
Maintain ALL hot foods at 140°F minimum. Check temperatures every 30 minutes for problem foods, every 2 hours otherwise. Use calibrated thermometers. Adjust equipment immediately if below 140°F. Reheat to 165°F if below temp for under 2 hours. DISCARD if below 140°F for over 2 hours.
CDC Risk Factor: Improper Holding/Time & Temperature - CDC Risk Factor #3
Which Boroughs See Violation 02B Most?
Restaurants Cited for Violation 02B (17,511 total)
Related Temperature Control Violations
Violation 02B: Frequently Asked Questions
- What is violation 02B in NYC restaurants?
- Hot potentially hazardous foods must be maintained at 140°F or above to prevent rapid bacterial growth in the danger zone (41-140°F).
- How serious is violation 02B?
- Critical violation. BACTERIAL MULTIPLICATION: At 120°F, Clostridium perfringens doubles every 10 minutes. Can reach illness-causing levels within 1 hour. This bacteria causes 1 million US cases annually with severe abdominal cramps and diarrhea lasting 24 hours. Hot holding violations responsible for 40% of restaurant outbreaks.
- How many NYC restaurants have been cited for violation 02B?
- 17,511 NYC restaurant inspections have included violation 02B, representing 15.83% of all inspections with violations.
- Which borough has the most violation 02B citations?
- Manhattan has the highest number of violation 02B citations among NYC boroughs.
- What must a restaurant do to fix violation 02B?
- Maintain ALL hot foods at 140°F minimum. Check temperatures every 30 minutes for problem foods, every 2 hours otherwise. Use calibrated thermometers. Adjust equipment immediately if below 140°F. Reheat to 165°F if below temp for under 2 hours. DISCARD if below 140°F for over 2 hours.
- Is violation 02B a critical violation?
- Yes, violation 02B is a critical violation. Critical violations pose the most serious risk to public health and must be corrected immediately.