2,350 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.7 out of 5. 83.6% rated "very good".
Food hygiene ratings in Sunderland are assessed under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), operated by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Every food business that handles, stores, prepares, or sells food is inspected by trained environmental health officers. Ratings run from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good). The inspection covers hygienic food handling, the physical condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.
Sunderland currently has 2,350 registered food businesses. Of these, 1,951 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs well above the national average, with 83.6% of businesses achieving the top rating of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.7 out of 5. There are currently 22 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they require urgent or major improvement to meet food hygiene standards.
If you are eating out in this area, look for the green FHRS sticker displayed at the entrance of food premises. Businesses rated 3 or above are generally considered satisfactory, but a rating of 5 gives the strongest assurance. If a business has a low rating, it does not necessarily mean the food is unsafe right now, as improvements may have been made since the last inspection, but it does indicate that significant issues were found.
| Name | Address | Rating | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| China City | SR5 2RP | 0 | Dec 12, 2025 |
| May Ho Chinese Take Away | DH4 4BD | 0 | Nov 27, 2025 |
| Spice Corner | SR4 7AA | 0 | Jul 17, 2025 |
| Afrikana Hub Ltd | SR2 8RP | 1 | Jul 29, 2024 |
| AriyoPlus | SR4 6NQ | 1 | Jul 03, 2024 |
| Better Bargain | SR1 1SE | 1 | Sep 20, 2024 |
| Black Chilli | SR6 0NT | 1 | Oct 02, 2024 |
| Bobabru | SR2 9QF | 1 | Sep 11, 2025 |
| Chengs | SR5 5HF | 1 | Dec 02, 2025 |
| Empire | SR4 8JJ | 1 | Feb 04, 2026 |
| Family Shopper | DH5 0AA | 1 | Jul 08, 2025 |
| Heron Foods | SR4 8AB | 1 | Oct 21, 2025 |
| Hylton Chop Suey House | SR4 7XA | 1 | Dec 12, 2024 |
| Ice Ice Baby Milkshake Bar | NE38 7SA | 1 | May 06, 2025 |
| Mais Thai Takeway | DH4 4QX | 1 | Jan 21, 2026 |
There are currently 1,632 food businesses in Sunderland with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 83.6% of all rated establishments. A rating of 5 means that the business was found to have very good hygiene standards at the time of inspection.
A food hygiene rating of 1 means 'Major Improvement Necessary'. This indicates that the food business was found to have significant problems with hygiene standards during its most recent inspection. The business is required to make substantial improvements. While it can remain open, it should be re-inspected to confirm improvements have been made.
Inspection frequency in Sunderland depends on the risk level of the business. High-risk establishments (such as those with previous low ratings) may be inspected every 6 months, while low-risk businesses with a consistent rating of 5 may only be inspected every 2-3 years. The local authority's environmental health team manages the inspection schedule.