“Dirty Dining in the Big Apple” by Consumer Protect
Aug. 9, 2017 By Nathaly Pesantez
The average number of food service violations per eatery in Queens was fewer than in any other borough in 2016, according to a report by Consumer Protect.
An average of 3.99 violations per business were found in Queens zip codes. The Bronx came in second with 4.06 violations, Staten Island third with 4.09 violations, and Manhattan with an average of 4.15 violations.
While the average for Queens did not exceed 4.00, several western Queens neighborhoods averaged well over that number in food service violations, including Long Island City, Sunnyside, Jackson Heights, and parts of Astoria.
11372 (Jackson Heights) : 4.32
11106 (Astoria): 4.18
11101 (Long Island City) : 4.16
11103 (Astoria) : 4.11
11104 (Sunnyside) : 4.1
11102 (Astoria) 4.02
11105 (Astoria): 3.85
11377 (Woodside): 3.85
11375 (Forest Hills) : 3.34
According to the report, the top three violations found at the highest percentage of businesses citywide are:
Nonfood contact surface improperly constructed : 51.4 %
Facility not vermin-proof: 36.7 %
Food contact surface not properly washed after use: 28.3 %
The report also found that soul food, Polish, Turkish, and Bangladeshi restaurants were among the top four restaurant cuisine types with the highest average number of violations per business, with soul food at an average of 6 violations and Bangladeshi food at an average of 5.4.
