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)

JOLLIBEE

14 EAST 42 STREET, Manhattan

GRADE N

Mar 24, 2026

Score: 17

THE QUAYS IRISH PUB

45-02 30 AVENUE, Queens

GRADE A

Mar 23, 2026

Score: 10

STARBUCKS

6 METRO TECH, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 23, 2026

Score: 8

SUNDAY IN BROOKLYN

348 WYTHE AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 23, 2026

Score: 11

GREEN GARDEN VILLAGE

216 GRAND STREET, Manhattan

Mar 23, 2026

Score: 68

GRAND MORELOS

727 GRAND STREET, Brooklyn

GRADE Z

Mar 23, 2026

Score: 6

BK HALAL GRILL

411 UTICA AVENUE, Brooklyn

Mar 23, 2026

Score: 49

IMM THAI

80 NASSAU STREET, Manhattan

Mar 23, 2026

Score: 18

BOITHAK KHANA KITCHEN & SWEETS

1102 LIBERTY AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE Z

Mar 23, 2026

Score: 39

SAPPORO ICHIBAN SUSHI

622 MANHATTAN AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 23, 2026

Score: 12

PITA YEERO

100 PEARL STREET, Manhattan

Mar 23, 2026

PITA YEERO

100 PEARL STREET, Manhattan

GRADE N

Mar 23, 2026

Score: 31

PITA YEERO

100 PEARL STREET, Manhattan

GRADE N

Mar 23, 2026

Score: 31

PITA YEERO

100 PEARL STREET, Manhattan

GRADE N

Mar 23, 2026

Score: 31

AMITUOFO VEGAN CUISINE

19 BOGART STREET, Brooklyn

GRADE N

Mar 23, 2026

Score: 30

NORA'S PARK BENCH CAFE

3019 QUENTIN ROAD, Brooklyn

Mar 21, 2026

Score: 26

THE ORIGINAL PIZZA OF 4TH AVE

6823 4 AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 21, 2026

Score: 5

SAN SOO KAP SAN

171-04 NORTHERN BOULEVARD, Queens

GRADE Z

Mar 21, 2026

Score: 24

BLACK FOREST BROOKLYN

181 SMITH STREET, Brooklyn

Mar 21, 2026

Score: 22

C & L NEW YORK TRADING INC

5418 7 AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 21, 2026

Score: 13

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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.