5

Sainsbury's food hygiene rating

Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Middlesbrough

Sainsbury's holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the supermarket met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.

The rating: 5 - Very good

The rating dates from 2 October 2023, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.

Address: 40-44 Broughton Avenue, Middlesbrough, TS4 3PZ

How it compares in Middlesbrough

That puts Sainsbury's among the 868 places in Middlesbrough holding top marks, 84% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.

Every rated food business in Middlesbrough
5 out of 5 868 84% ← Sainsbury's
4 out of 5 81 8%
3 out of 5 42 4%
2 out of 5 23 2%
1 out of 5 13 1%
0 out of 5 3 <1%

A further 133 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Sainsbury's none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.

Food hygiene ratings nearby

The closest food businesses to Sainsbury's, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Beechwood & Easterside DSC Pub/bar/nightclub 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 30 September 2023
Blue Cap Caterers at Beechwood club Other catering premises 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 14 April 2025
Apple Tree Pub/bar/nightclub 0.5 miles away 5 - Very good 18 February 2025
Beechwood Convenience Retailers - other 0.6 miles away 5 - Very good 30 September 2023
Bon Appetit Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 0.7 miles away 5 - Very good 13 June 2025
Beechgrove School School/college/university 0.9 miles away 5 - Very good 11 February 2025
Anisas Tandoori Takeaway/sandwich shop 0.9 miles away 5 - Very good 14 January 2026
Belle Vue Convenience Off Licence Retailers - other 0.9 miles away 5 - Very good 30 September 2023

Questions about Sainsbury's

What is Sainsbury's's food hygiene rating?

Sainsbury's has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Middlesbrough Council on 2 October 2023.

Is Sainsbury's safe to eat at?

The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this supermarket to be very good, the top end of the scale.

When was Sainsbury's last inspected?

Sainsbury's was last inspected on 2 October 2023, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Middlesbrough Council rather than by the business.

What did the inspector find at Sainsbury's?

The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.

How does Sainsbury's compare to other places in Middlesbrough?

84% of the 1,030 rated food businesses in Middlesbrough hold the top rating of 5, and Sainsbury's is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Middlesbrough Council inspects Sainsbury's and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.

Tell me when this changes

The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Sainsbury's and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.

Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →

Understanding this rating

More food hygiene ratings near here

Middlesbrough inspects and rates 1,163 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Middlesbrough

The official record is held by the council: http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk

Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →