Critical Violation Code 20-08

Failure to post or conspicuously post healthy eating information Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F. Filth — NYC Health Violation 20-08

Overview

Violation code 20-08 covers multiple critical administrative and food safety failures, including improper food temperature control, pest infestations, and missing health and safety postings required by NYC DOHMH. This violation is classified as critical because failures in these areas—such as hot foods not held above 140°F or the presence of filth flies—create immediate risk of foodborne illness and bacterial contamination. The violation has been cited over 3,400 times across NYC since the current grading system began, with Manhattan accounting for the highest number of violations.

3,438
Times Cited in NYC
3.11%
of Inspections
Critical
Severity Level
Manhattan
Most Common Borough

What is Violation 20-08?

Failure to post or conspicuously post healthy eating information Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (FRSA) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. FRSA flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies and fruit flies. Food allergy information poster not conspicuously posted where food is being prepared or processed by food workers. Properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and

What restaurants must do to fix this

Follow NYC Health Code Article 81 requirements. Implement corrective action immediately. Document all corrections. Train staff on proper procedures. Schedule follow-up inspection if critical.

NYC DOHMH Guidelines → CDC Food Safety Reference →

Which Boroughs See Violation 20-08 Most?

Manhattan
1,654 citations
Brooklyn
825 citations
Queens
652 citations
Bronx
281 citations
Staten Island
31 citations

Restaurants Cited for Violation 20-08 (3,438 total)

COCONUT THYME CUISINE
531 UTICA AVENUE, Brooklyn
Mar 31, 2026
LONGJIANG PORK FEET RICE
37-11 MAIN STREET, Queens
Mar 30, 2026
LONGJIANG PORK FEET RICE
37-11 MAIN STREET, Queens
Mar 30, 2026
LONGJIANG PORK FEET RICE
37-11 MAIN STREET, Queens
Mar 30, 2026
LAND-O-FUN
2955 CONEY ISLAND AVENUE, Brooklyn
Mar 27, 2026
ANVAR'S RESTAURANT
241 BRIGHTON BEACH AVENUE, Brooklyn
Mar 27, 2026
LIQUID
3859 10 AVENUE, Manhattan
Mar 25, 2026
LIQUID
3859 10 AVENUE, Manhattan
Mar 25, 2026
THE MUFFIN CAFE
222 COLUMBUS AVENUE, Manhattan
Mar 25, 2026
LIQUID
3859 10 AVENUE, Manhattan
Mar 25, 2026
LIQUID
3859 10 AVENUE, Manhattan
Mar 25, 2026
FIFTYLAN
248 MOTT STREET, Manhattan
Mar 24, 2026
KOSHER PIZZA TIME
1324 AVENUE J, Brooklyn
Mar 24, 2026
RIVARENO GELATO
195 SPRING STREET, Manhattan
Mar 24, 2026
SCHOLASTIC - CLIFFORD'S CAFE
557 BROADWAY, Manhattan
Mar 24, 2026
FIFTYLAN
248 MOTT STREET, Manhattan
Mar 24, 2026
PITA YEERO
100 PEARL STREET, Manhattan
Mar 23, 2026
PITA YEERO
100 PEARL STREET, Manhattan
Mar 23, 2026
PITA YEERO
100 PEARL STREET, Manhattan
Mar 23, 2026
BIG APPLE CAFE
891 AMSTERDAM AVENUE, Manhattan
Mar 20, 2026

Related Administrative Violations

20-04 NYC Health Code Violation 20-04 Critical 4,793 cited 20-06 NYC Health Code Violation 20-06 Critical 3,688 cited 20-01 NYC Health Code Violation 20-01 Critical 1,730 cited 20F NYC Health Code Violation 20F Critical 179 cited 20D NYC Health Code Violation 20D Critical 154 cited 20-05 NYC Health Code Violation 20-05 Critical 146 cited

Browse all 131 violation codes →

Violation 20-08: Frequently Asked Questions

What is violation 20-08 in NYC restaurants?
Failure to post or conspicuously post healthy eating information Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (FRSA) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. FRSA flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies and fruit flies. Food allergy information poster not conspicuously posted where food is being prepared or processed by food workers. Properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas to measure temperatures of TCS foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding. Failure to maintain a sufficient supply of single-use, non-compostable plastic straws. “Choking first aid” poster not posted. “Alcohol and Pregnancy” warning sign not posted. Resuscitation equipment: exhaled air resuscitation masks (adult & pediatric), latex gloves, sign not posted. Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit. Cold TCS food item held above 41 °F; smoked or processed fish held above 38 °F; intact raw eggs held above 45 °F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation. Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
How serious is violation 20-08?
Critical violation. HEALTH HAZARD: This critical violation creates immediate risk of foodborne illness. Studies link Failure to post or conspicuously post he to bacterial contamination and outbreak events. Must be corrected immediately to protect public health.
How many NYC restaurants have been cited for violation 20-08?
3,438 NYC restaurant inspections have included violation 20-08, representing 3.11% of all inspections with violations.
Which borough has the most violation 20-08 citations?
Manhattan has the highest number of violation 20-08 citations among NYC boroughs.
What must a restaurant do to fix violation 20-08?
Follow NYC Health Code Article 81 requirements. Implement corrective action immediately. Document all corrections. Train staff on proper procedures. Schedule follow-up inspection if critical.
Is violation 20-08 a critical violation?
Yes, violation 20-08 is a critical violation. Critical violations pose the most serious risk to public health and must be corrected immediately.