Sainsbury's food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Durham
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 5 March 2025, 16 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Sainsbury's Bishop Auckland Trade Park, St Helen Auckland, DL14 9AE
How it compares in Durham
That puts Sainsbury's among the 3,087 places in Durham holding top marks, 75% 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.
| 5 out of 5 | 3,087 | 75% | ← Sainsbury's | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 682 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 286 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 51 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 24 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 513 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 179 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 August 2025 |
| McDonalds Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 223 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2026 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 237 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2025 |
| Marks and Spencer Simply Food Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 237 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2024 |
| March Hare Pub/bar/nightclub | 284 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2025 |
| Go Local Retailers - other | 388 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 December 2022 |
| Food Warehouse Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2026 |
| Marton Care Homes - St Helens Care Home Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2025 |
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 Durham Council on 5 March 2025.
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 5 March 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Durham 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 "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 Durham?
75% of the 4,132 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Sainsbury's is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham 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
Sainsbury's is one of 36 rated food businesses in St Helen Auckland. See every hygiene rating in St Helen Auckland →
Durham inspects and rates 4,645 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Durham →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.durham.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 →