Food Not Cooled by Approved Method — NYC Health Violation 02H
Violation code 02H — Food Not Cooled by Approved Method — is a critical temperature control violation that occurs when cooked foods are not rapidly cooled from 140°F to 70°F within 2 hours, then to 41°F within the next 4 hours. This violation is the leading cause of foodborne illness outbreaks in the U.S., particularly from Clostridium perfringens and Staphylococcus aureus, which produce toxins that survive reheating and can sicken dozens or hundreds of people. NYC DOHMH has cited this violation over 3,100 times since records began, making it one of the most common critical violations found during inspections.
What is Violation 02H?
Cooked foods must be rapidly cooled from 140°F to 70°F within 2 hours, then to 41°F within 4 additional hours.
Cool using approved methods: Shallow pans (2 inches max depth), Ice baths with frequent stirring, Ice paddles, Blast chillers, Cut large items into portions. NEVER cool at room temperature. NEVER stack hot containers. Document cooling times and temperatures.
CDC Risk Factor: Improper Cooling - Leading Cause of Outbreaks
Which Boroughs See Violation 02H Most?
Restaurants Cited for Violation 02H (3,102 total)
Related Temperature Control Violations
Violation 02H: Frequently Asked Questions
- What is violation 02H in NYC restaurants?
- Cooked foods must be rapidly cooled from 140°F to 70°F within 2 hours, then to 41°F within 4 additional hours.
- How serious is violation 02H?
- Critical violation. TOXIN PRODUCTION: Slow cooling is the #1 cause of foodborne outbreaks. Clostridium perfringens spores survive cooking and germinate during slow cooling, producing heat-stable toxin. Causes 'buffet illness' affecting hundreds at events. Staph aureus produces toxin that CANNOT be destroyed by reheating.
- How many NYC restaurants have been cited for violation 02H?
- 3,102 NYC restaurant inspections have included violation 02H, representing 2.8% of all inspections with violations.
- Which borough has the most violation 02H citations?
- Manhattan has the highest number of violation 02H citations among NYC boroughs.
- What must a restaurant do to fix violation 02H?
- Cool using approved methods: Shallow pans (2 inches max depth), Ice baths with frequent stirring, Ice paddles, Blast chillers, Cut large items into portions. NEVER cool at room temperature. NEVER stack hot containers. Document cooling times and temperatures.
- Is violation 02H a critical violation?
- Yes, violation 02H is a critical violation. Critical violations pose the most serious risk to public health and must be corrected immediately.