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
0
21 citations

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

KATANA SUSHI
218 COLUMBIA STREET, Brooklyn
GRADE A
Mar 25, 2026
Score: 13
AYAT
274 36 STREET, Brooklyn
CLOSED
Mar 25, 2026
EMPEROR DUMPLING
688 8 AVENUE, Manhattan
CLOSED
Mar 25, 2026
Score: 95
RANDY'S DONUTS
185 BLEECKER ST, Manhattan
GRADE A
Mar 25, 2026
Score: 5
REMI FLOWER & COFFEE
425 PARK AVENUE SOUTH, Manhattan
GRADE A
Mar 25, 2026
Score: 11
RUSSIAN SAMOVAR
256 WEST 52 STREET, Manhattan
GRADE A
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 11
JACQUES BRASSERIE
204 E 85TH ST, Manhattan
GRADE A
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 13
PASTELES CAPY
102-23 ROOSEVELT AVENUE, Queens
GRADE A
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 12
RICO CHIMI
80-01 ATLANTIC AVENUE, Queens
GRADE Z
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 24
GOLDEN PHOENIX
5646 RIVERDALE AVENUE, Bronx
GRADE Z
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 34
PEPPA'S
8021 FLATLANDS AVENUE, Brooklyn
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 24
BUTLER
101 NORTH 8 STREET, Brooklyn
GRADE A
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 8
MISTA OH
41 WEST 24 STREET, Manhattan
GRADE A
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 12
YE'S APOTHECARY
119 ORCHARD STREET, Manhattan
GRADE N
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 23
ZHENG LU WEI
6321 8 AVENUE, Brooklyn
GRADE A
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 7
MAMAZUL
1155 BROADWAY, Manhattan
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 47
CHARCOAL GARDENIA
432 MANOR ROAD, Staten Island
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 42
8090 TAIWAN CUISINE
133-35 ROOSEVELT AVENUE, Queens
GRADE N
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 53
BATHHOUSE
103 NORTH 10 STREET, Brooklyn
GRADE A
Mar 24, 2026
Score: 5
FIFTYLAN
248 MOTT STREET, Manhattan
Mar 24, 2026

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.