Sainsbury's food hygiene rating
Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets · Breckland
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 15 October 2024, 20 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: London Road J Sainsbury Plc Forest Retail, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 3QL
How it compares in Breckland
That puts Sainsbury's among the 1,014 places in Breckland holding top marks, 86% 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 | 1,014 | 86% | ← Sainsbury's | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 101 | 9% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 47 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 12 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 77 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFC Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 101 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 December 2025 |
| McDonald's Restaurants Limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 101 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2025 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2025 |
| Sports Direct Retailers - other | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 February 2024 |
| Starbucks Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 136 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 April 2025 |
| Casey's Catering by Lucy Takeaway/sandwich shop | 183 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2025 |
| L's Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 187 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 February 2025 |
| Home Bargains Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 209 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 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 Breckland Council on 15 October 2024.
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 15 October 2024, 20 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Breckland 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 Breckland?
86% of the 1,180 rated food businesses in Breckland hold the top rating of 5, and Sainsbury's is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Breckland 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.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sainsbury's is one of 198 rated food businesses in Thetford. See every hygiene rating in Thetford →
Breckland inspects and rates 1,257 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Breckland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.breckland.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 →