Major Violation Code 10H NYC Health Code §81.21

Sanitization not provided for utensil washing — NYC Health Violation 10H

Overview

Violation code 10H involves failure to sanitize utensils after washing, allowing bacteria to survive on equipment that directly contacts food and customers' mouths. This major violation has been cited 4,263 times across NYC since inspections began, with Manhattan accounting for the highest number of cases. Proper sanitization—through hot water, chemical sanitizers, or commercial equipment—is essential to prevent foodborne illness transmission and is a core requirement of NYC DOHMH food safety standards.

4,263
Times Cited in NYC
3.85%
of Inspections
Major
Severity Level
Manhattan
Most Common Borough

What is Violation 10H?

Utensils must be properly sanitized after washing to kill remaining bacteria

What restaurants must do to fix this

Use approved sanitizer at correct concentration; test strips required; proper contact time

CDC Risk Factor: Contaminated Equipment/Protection from Contamination

NYC DOHMH Guidelines → CDC Food Safety Reference →

Which Boroughs See Violation 10H Most?

Manhattan
1,681 citations
Queens
1,117 citations
Brooklyn
1,073 citations
Bronx
219 citations
Staten Island
177 citations
0
7 citations

Restaurants Cited for Violation 10H (4,263 total)

BLACK THAI
81-16 NORTHERN BOULEVARD, Queens
GRADE A
Nov 24, 2025
Score: 13
TOYO RAMEN BAR
349 7 AVENUE, Brooklyn
GRADE N
Nov 24, 2025
Score: 66
WHAT THE FALAFEL
124 MACDOUGAL STREET, Manhattan
GRADE A
Nov 24, 2025
Score: 10
K KIMCHI RESTAURANT
44-37 DOUGLASTON PARKWAY, Queens
GRADE A
Nov 24, 2025
Score: 8
JUST SALAD
199 LAFAYETTE STREET, Manhattan
GRADE A
Nov 24, 2025
Score: 11
KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS
200 BROADWAY, Manhattan
GRADE N
Nov 24, 2025
Score: 27
MISKI CAFE
1209 NOSTRAND AVENUE, Brooklyn
GRADE N
Nov 24, 2025
Score: 29
QUEENS BUFFET & CAJUN SEAFOOD
90-10 ATLANTIC AVENUE, Queens
GRADE Z
Nov 24, 2025
Score: 41
GAZALA'S
447 AMSTERDAM AVENUE, Manhattan
Nov 21, 2025
Score: 21
TALK OF THE TRACK
110-00 ROCKAWAY BOULEVARD, Queens
GRADE A
Nov 21, 2025
Score: 9
WONDER
493 5 AVENUE, Brooklyn
GRADE A
Nov 21, 2025
Score: 5
CAFE PRI
627 WILSON AVENUE, Brooklyn
GRADE A
Nov 21, 2025
Score: 11
SUPREME STEAMY SOUP
801 58 STREET, Brooklyn
GRADE A
Nov 21, 2025
Score: 9
AJISEN RAMEN
14 MOTT STREET, Manhattan
GRADE A
Nov 20, 2025
Score: 12
BEST PIZZA ON 1ST.
1038 1 AVENUE, Manhattan
Nov 20, 2025
Score: 43
BEST PIZZA ON 1ST.
1038 1 AVENUE, Manhattan
Nov 20, 2025
RESIDENCE INN WORLD TRADE CENTER
170 BROADWAY, Manhattan
GRADE Z
Nov 20, 2025
Score: 18
MCDONALD'S
208 VARICK STREET, Manhattan
CLOSED
Nov 20, 2025
Score: 55
WOOGA
371 7 AVENUE, Manhattan
GRADE A
Nov 20, 2025
Score: 5
TI HU TAIWANESE CUISINE
249-11 NORTHERN BOULEVARD, Queens
CLOSED
Nov 20, 2025
Score: 82

Related Cleaning & Sanitization Violations

06D Food Contact Surfaces Not Properly Sanitized Critical 20,906 cited 10G Dishwashing facilities inadequate Major 7,956 cited 06F Wiping Cloths Not Stored in Sanitizer Critical 5,867 cited

Browse all 131 violation codes →

Violation 10H: Frequently Asked Questions

What is violation 10H in NYC restaurants?
Utensils must be properly sanitized after washing to kill remaining bacteria
How serious is violation 10H?
Major violation. Unsanitized utensils transfer bacteria directly to customers' food and mouths
How many NYC restaurants have been cited for violation 10H?
4,263 NYC restaurant inspections have included violation 10H, representing 3.85% of all inspections with violations.
Which borough has the most violation 10H citations?
Manhattan has the highest number of violation 10H citations among NYC boroughs.
What must a restaurant do to fix violation 10H?
Use approved sanitizer at correct concentration; test strips required; proper contact time
Is violation 10H a critical violation?
No, violation 10H is classified as a major violation. However, all violations must be corrected to maintain a passing health grade.