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)

O.B'S BAKERY

165-76 BAISLEY BOULEVARD, Queens

GRADE Z

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 22

CHICKEN FESTIVAL

29-19 DITMARS BOULEVARD, Queens

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 27

BURGER KING

400 EAST TREMONT AVENUE, Bronx

GRADE A

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 9

TRUE COLORS

79-15 ROOSEVELT AVENUE, Queens

GRADE A

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 10

3-J RESTAURANT AND PIZZA

554A PROSPECT AVENUE, Bronx

GRADE Z

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 22

LEON'S BAGELS

169 THOMPSON STREET, Manhattan

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 29

CAFE D'AVIGNON

88 ESSEX STREET, Manhattan

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 24

BEAN & BEAN COFFEE

71 BROADWAY, Manhattan

GRADE A

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 10

SLEEPWALK

251 BUSHWICK AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 6

PUNTA CANA

490 DEKALB AVENUE, Brooklyn

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 40

THE GREEN ORGANIC

105 BROAD ST, Manhattan

CLOSED

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 91

MATCHAFUL

44 WASHINGTON AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 11

COBBLE HILL COFFEE SHOP

314 COURT STREET, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 13

NEWLAB

19 MORRIS AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 7

AUNTIE ANNE'S/CINNABON

1570 FLATBUSH AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE N

Mar 27, 2026

Score: 33

FASCATI'S PIZZERIA

80 HENRY STREET, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 26, 2026

Score: 5

LA CASA BELLA

2579 CROPSEY AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 26, 2026

Score: 13

LITTLE ITALY PIZZA

55 WEST 45 STREET, Manhattan

GRADE A

Mar 26, 2026

Score: 7

THE WAYLAND

700 EAST 9 STREET, Manhattan

GRADE A

Mar 26, 2026

Score: 13

THE HARP

7710 3 AVENUE, Brooklyn

GRADE A

Mar 26, 2026

Score: 10

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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.