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

7,517 citations

Queens

5,891 citations

Brooklyn

5,196 citations

Bronx

1,421 citations

Staten Island

608 citations

21 citations

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

MILKY ICE

130 EAST 57 STREET, Manhattan

GRADE N

Mar 19, 2026

Score: 92

SEVILLA

62 CHARLES STREET, Manhattan

GRADE A

Mar 18, 2026

Score: 13

MYUNG SAN RESTAURANT

162-21 DEPOT ROAD, Queens

Mar 18, 2026

Score: 23

AMC THEATRES

312 WEST 34 STREET, Manhattan

GRADE A

Mar 18, 2026

Score: 8

SOPHIE'S CUBAN CUISINE

401 EAST 68 STREET, Manhattan

GRADE A

Mar 18, 2026

Score: 8

DUNKIN

101 EAST 16 STREET, Manhattan

GRADE A

Mar 18, 2026

Score: 10

LALIBELA ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT

2084 FREDERICK DOUGLASS BOULEVARD, Manhattan

GRADE Z

Mar 18, 2026

Score: 26

787 COFFEE

159 2 AVENUE, Manhattan

CLOSED

Mar 18, 2026

Score: 61

HABIBI BAR AND RESTAURANT

154 SCOTT AVENUE, Brooklyn

Mar 18, 2026

Score: 8

METRO CAFE

297 7 AVENUE, Manhattan

Mar 18, 2026

Score: 22

MAPO ASIAN RESTAURANT & BAR

728 8 AVENUE, Manhattan

Mar 18, 2026

MAPO ASIAN RESTAURANT & BAR

728 8 AVENUE, Manhattan

Mar 18, 2026

MAPO ASIAN RESTAURANT & BAR

728 8 AVENUE, Manhattan

GRADE N

Mar 18, 2026

Score: 34

MAPO ASIAN RESTAURANT & BAR

728 8 AVENUE, Manhattan

GRADE N

Mar 18, 2026

Score: 34

CARDIO BAKERY

51 DIVISION STREET, Manhattan

GRADE Z

Mar 18, 2026

Score: 18

SHAMROCK INN

1729 CROSBY AVENUE, Bronx

GRADE N

Mar 18, 2026

Score: 24

SCHNIPPER'S QUALITY KITCHEN

620 8 AVENUE, Manhattan

Mar 17, 2026

Score: 23

MILA'S BISTRO

81 LUDLOW STREET, Manhattan

Mar 17, 2026

Score: 23

CHOP'T

1 NEW YORK PLAZA, Manhattan

GRADE A

Mar 17, 2026

Score: 7

L.S. FOREVER DELI

789 MCDONALD AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 17, 2026

Score: 7

« Prev 12 13 14 15 16 Next »

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.