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

7,530 citations

Queens

5,895 citations

Brooklyn

5,202 citations

Bronx

1,421 citations

Staten Island

608 citations

21 citations

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

L.S. FOREVER DELI

789 MCDONALD AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 17, 2026

Score: 7

STAGE STAR DELI

105 WEST 55 STREET, Manhattan

Mar 17, 2026

Score: 33

TAQ

81 WARREN STREET, Manhattan

GRADE A

Mar 17, 2026

Score: 13

ZURI COFFEE

2218 BROADWAY, Manhattan

Mar 17, 2026

Score: 55

HONG KONG GOURMET

144-20 NORTHERN BOULEVARD, Queens

Mar 17, 2026

TANYA'S APOTHECARY

1531 70 STREET, Brooklyn

Mar 17, 2026

TANYA'S APOTHECARY

1531 70 STREET, Brooklyn

CLOSED

Mar 17, 2026

Score: 100

BAZU! BY SUPERWOW COFFEE

41 DIVISION STREET, Manhattan

GRADE Z

Mar 17, 2026

Score: 40

DUNKIN

26-05 FRANCIS LEWIS BOULEVARD, Queens

GRADE A

Mar 16, 2026

Score: 12

ARIRANG USA

41-04 163 STREET, Queens

Mar 16, 2026

Score: 47

MOMO TEST KITCHEN

80 58 STREET, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 16, 2026

Score: 6

LEE & BAI CHINESE BUNS SHOP

38-09 UNION STREET, Queens

GRADE Z

Mar 16, 2026

Score: 16

ESPURRESSO CAT CAFE

208-03 35 AVENUE, Queens

GRADE N

Mar 16, 2026

Score: 54

ESPURRESSO CAT CAFE

208-03 35 AVENUE, Queens

GRADE N

Mar 16, 2026

Score: 54

THE NUAA TABLE

638 BERGEN STREET, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 14, 2026

Score: 10

STARBUCKS

134 MONTAGUE STREET, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 13, 2026

Score: 8

STARBUCKS COFFEE #53473

55 BROADWAY, Manhattan

GRADE A

Mar 13, 2026

Score: 11

RIALTO GRANDE

644 FRANKLIN AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 13, 2026

Score: 12

EAST SEASON RESTAURANT HOUSE

244 CANAL STREET, Manhattan

GRADE Z

Mar 13, 2026

Score: 25

PERLE

22 GREENWICH AVENUE, Manhattan

GRADE N

Mar 13, 2026

Score: 23

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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.