How serious is violation 06C?

Critical violation. Unprotected food exposed to bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and physical contaminants

How many NYC restaurants have been cited for violation 06C?

20,573 NYC restaurant inspections have included violation 06C, representing 18.6% of all inspections with violations.

Which borough has the most violation 06C citations?

Manhattan has the highest number of violation 06C citations among NYC boroughs.

Is violation 06C a critical violation?

Yes, violation 06C is a critical violation. Critical violations pose the most serious risk to public health and must be corrected immediately.

Critical Violation Code 06C NYC Health Code §81.09

Food not protected from contamination — NYC Health Violation 06C

Overview

Violation code 06C — Food not protected from contamination — is a critical food protection violation cited over 20,500 times across NYC since inspections began. This violation occurs when food is exposed to bacteria, viruses, chemicals, or physical contaminants during storage, preparation, display, or service, creating direct risk of foodborne illness. The violation is the most frequently cited in Manhattan and reflects a core requirement of food safety: all food must be properly protected at every stage from farm to table.

20,573

Times Cited in NYC

18.6%

of Inspections

Critical

Severity Level

Manhattan

Most Common Borough

What is Violation 06C?

All food must be protected from contamination during storage, prep, display and service

What restaurants must do to fix this

Cover all food; store 6 inches off floor; protect from customer contamination; use sneeze guards

CDC Risk Factor: Contaminated Equipment/Protection from Contamination

NYC DOHMH Guidelines → CDC Food Safety Reference →

Which Boroughs See Violation 06C Most?

Manhattan

7,511 citations

Queens

5,883 citations

Brooklyn

5,187 citations

Bronx

1,419 citations

Staten Island

608 citations

21 citations

Restaurants Cited for Violation 06C (20,573 total)

ROYAL PIZZERIA

55-06 MYRTLE AVENUE, Queens

GRADE Z

Apr 15, 2026

Score: 24

OSU-R.E GRILL

1344 EAST GUN HILL ROAD, Bronx

Apr 15, 2026

Score: 38

Peking Restaurant

69-78 188 STREET, Queens

GRADE Z

Apr 15, 2026

Score: 43

YEMENAT

7721 5 AVENUE, Brooklyn

Apr 15, 2026

Score: 30

% Arabica

30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA, Manhattan

GRADE Z

Apr 15, 2026

Score: 22

BOONGS CHICKEN

1405 2 AVENUE, Manhattan

GRADE N

Apr 14, 2026

Score: 38

BOONGS GRAB & GO

77 3 AVENUE, Manhattan

GRADE N

Apr 14, 2026

Score: 45

THE CAFE @ CORNELL TECH

2 WEST LOOP ROAD, Manhattan

GRADE N

Apr 14, 2026

Score: 33

86 GOLDEN BAY RESTAURANT

2144 86 STREET, Brooklyn

CLOSED

Apr 14, 2026

Score: 68

STARBUCKS

1128 3 AVENUE, Manhattan

Apr 13, 2026

Score: 23

STAN'S SPORTS BAR

836 RIVER AVENUE, Bronx

GRADE A

Apr 13, 2026

Score: 13

BOCA RESTAURANT & STEAK HOUSE

2458 WEBSTER AVE, Bronx

GRADE A

Apr 13, 2026

Score: 8

WO HOP NEXT DOOR

15 MOTT STREET, Manhattan

Apr 13, 2026

Score: 36

AGRA GRILL AND RESTAURANT

3835 WHITE PLAINS ROAD, Bronx

GRADE A

Apr 13, 2026

Score: 13

SAKURA

55 RICHMOND TERRACE, Staten Island

GRADE N

Apr 13, 2026

Score: 33

GARDEN GOURMET CAFE

814 FOREST AVENUE, Staten Island

GRADE N

Apr 13, 2026

Score: 42

GYOZA SHOP

208 BEDFORD AVENUE, Brooklyn

Apr 13, 2026

TIAN JIN CHINESE RESTAURANT

135-02 ROOSEVELT AVENUE, Queens

GRADE N

Apr 13, 2026

Score: 15

BBQ CHIPORK

20507 35TH AVE, Queens

Apr 11, 2026

Score: 25

THIRD RAIL COFFEE

240 SULLIVAN STREET, Manhattan

Apr 10, 2026

Score: 23

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Related Food Protection Violations

04H Food Contaminated or Cross-Contaminated Critical 6,869 cited 04J NYC Health Code Violation 04J Critical 2,715 cited 04O NYC Health Code Violation 04O Critical 461 cited 04F NYC Health Code Violation 04F Critical 247 cited 04E Toxic chemical or pesticide improperly stored or used such that food contamin... Critical 202 cited 04P Food containing a prohibited substance held, kept, offered, prepared, process... Critical 160 cited

Browse all 131 violation codes →

Violation 06C: Frequently Asked Questions

What is violation 06C in NYC restaurants?: All food must be protected from contamination during storage, prep, display and service
How serious is violation 06C?: Critical violation. Unprotected food exposed to bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and physical contaminants
How many NYC restaurants have been cited for violation 06C?: 20,573 NYC restaurant inspections have included violation 06C, representing 18.6% of all inspections with violations.
Which borough has the most violation 06C citations?: Manhattan has the highest number of violation 06C citations among NYC boroughs.
What must a restaurant do to fix violation 06C?: Cover all food; store 6 inches off floor; protect from customer contamination; use sneeze guards
Is violation 06C a critical violation?: Yes, violation 06C is a critical violation. Critical violations pose the most serious risk to public health and must be corrected immediately.