Bronx grocery shoppers are getting a hard look at those shiny A grades on storefront windows after a sweep of state inspection records showed a far messier backstory. A borough-wide review found that while most supermarkets and delis now sport top scores, many did so only after serious past safety failures that saw tens of thousands of pounds of food tossed and one Mott Haven deli hauled into court. The disconnect between the polished letter grade and earlier violations has plenty of locals wondering what that A really stands for.
How the grading works
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets issues A, B or C grades to retail food stores, using its Division of Food Safety and Inspection to carry out more than 21,500 checks in 2024 as part of a statewide push to catch critical hazards and trigger recalls when needed, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Stores must post a Notice of Inspection near public entrances, and inspectors conduct follow-up visits to confirm that problems were fixed. Shops that fail to post the notice can be fined, the department says.
A big A does not erase a bad history
A borough-by-borough review by the Bronx Times found that most Bronx food businesses currently hold A grades, but many only landed those marks after correcting earlier serious violations. Reporters counted more than 450 instances where inspectors ordered unsafe food destroyed, totaling over 33,778 pounds. Past inspections included 990 pounds of raw chicken and pork discarded at La Parada Latina and 1,800 pounds of yogurt, deli meat and cheese removed from Sy Strawberry Farms.
Failing stores cluster in these ZIP codes
State inspection data shows that some Bronx neighborhoods have higher rates of failing scores than others. Roughly 26 to 29 percent of inspected stores in ZIP codes covering Highbridge/Mt. Eden (10452), Morris Heights (10453), Mott Haven/Port Morris (10454) and Throggs Neck (10465) did not pass, according to state records. The underlying inspection data is public and lets anyone look up a store’s grade and inspector notes: Food Safety Inspections – Current Ratings.
State sues Mott Haven deli after repeated violations
On the far end of the violation spectrum sits Willis Grocery and Deli Corp. in Mott Haven. The shop tallied more than 85 violations over six inspections and is now the subject of a state lawsuit seeking to close it down, according to reporting by the Bronx Times. Inspectors described “severe insanitary conditions,” including dozens of live cockroaches and a cat in the basement, and the complaint argues that the repeated critical problems pose a threat to public health.
What shoppers should watch for
An A in the window reflects the most recent inspection and can also signal that the store corrected problems from a previous failing visit. It is a snapshot, not a multi-year report card. The state notes that B and C grades trigger follow-up inspections to check that issues were fixed, and it requires the Notice of Inspection to be posted where customers can easily see it. Stores that ignore that rule face penalties, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
How to check a store's score
To see how a favorite market is really doing, shoppers can search the state’s public inspection records and review both the letter grade and the written notes, or simply start by looking for the Notice of Inspection at the entrance. If customers spot clear hazards on the shelves or behind the counter, the state accepts complaints and can send inspectors back for another look. The same public dataset used by reporters is available here: Food Safety Inspections – Current Ratings.
