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CANDLE 79

154 EAST 79 STREET, Manhattan, NY 10075 · Restaurant (Vegan)

Inspection summary

CANDLE 79 has been inspected 6 times by NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) since September 19, 2016. The most recent inspection, on September 12, 2019, recorded 3 infractions.

None of the 6 inspections on record were free of infractions. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Pests, Food temperature control and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 13, 2018. For example: Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on September 12, 2019. For example: Food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal product temperature is reduced from 140º F to 70º F or less within 2 hours, and from 70º F to 41º F or less within 4 additional hours.

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 13, 2018. For example: Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared.

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded once on December 13, 2016. For example: Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded once on September 19, 2016. For example: Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.

About this data

These results come from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

6 inspections

  1. Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 10F: Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
      • Not Critical
    • 02H: Food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal product temperature is reduced from 140º F to 70º F or less within 2 hours, and from 70º F to 41º F or less within 4 additional hours.
      • Critical
    • 10B: Plumbing not properly installed or maintained; anti-siphonage or backflow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly.
      • Not Critical
  2. Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection

    3 infractions

    • 04L: Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
      • Critical
    • 06A: Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared.
      • Critical
    • 04N: Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
      • Critical
  3. Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 04L: Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
      • Critical
    • 10B: Plumbing not properly installed or maintained; anti-siphonage or backflow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly.
      • Not Critical
    • 04N: Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
      • Critical
  4. Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 02B: Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.
      • Critical
  5. Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection

    2 infractions

    • 06C: Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
      • Critical
    • 02G: Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
      • Critical
  6. Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection

    4 infractions

    • 10B: Plumbing not properly installed or maintained; anti-siphonage or backflow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly.
      • Not Critical
    • 10E: Accurate thermometer not provided in refrigerated or hot holding equipment.
      • Not Critical
    • 06B: Tobacco use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area observed.
      • Critical
    • 06F: Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
      • Critical

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