Food safety
Customers have the right to be completely confident in the safety of the food they buy at Sainsbury's. Our product safety management system helps to ensure that all own-brand products in our stores meet the highest standards of safety.
Product labelling and information leaflets provide customers with up-to-date information to help them to identify any risk factors associated with products and to prepare food safely.
The experience with the food colourings "Sudan 1" and "Para Red" in 2005 demonstrates how we deal with safety issues.
Minute traces of these colouring ingredients, which are not allowed in food products in Europe, were found by several companies in a range of products. Low levels of Sudan 1 had been included in a batch of chilli powder used as an ingredient in a Worcester sauce which, in turn, was used in small quantities within many products as a flavouring or seasoning component. Traces of Para Red were subsequently found in chilli powder and paprika used as ingredients in some products.
The Food Standards Agency stated that the very low levels of these ingredients posed only a very small risk to health. But customer safety is our top priority so, following guidelines from the Food Standards Agency, we withdrew products containing Sudan 1 and Para Red from all our stores. Customers who had bought any affected products were invited to return them to a Sainsbury's store for a full refund.
For the Food safety PDF see the downloads section.
Product safety management system
Food safety is considered at every stage from product design, through production and transportation, to sale. We carry out regular inspections to ensure we meet the highest standards of hygiene and safety from suppliers' premises through to our stores.
Product samples are tested during production, before they leave the factory, and once they are on sale in store to ensure they meet safety and quality criteria.
All food handlers in our stores are trained in food hygiene and operate strict procedures to ensure we meet the standards our customers would expect.
See more in our downloads section for more information on how we manage food safety.
Food safety labelling
We provide customers with information through product labels and in-store leaflets to help them prepare food hygienically and minimise the risk of food poisoning. This includes tailored advice for groups that are more susceptible to food poisoning, such as the elderly, very young children and pregnant women.
Our own-brand products carry Allergen Advice labels to make it easier for customers to identify products containing potential allergens, such as nuts, sesame, shellfish, egg, milk, wheat and gluten.
Some foods are designed to be eaten raw or are processed in a way that cannot guarantee their safety, such as oysters, sushi or mould-ripened soft cheeses. These foods are not suitable for all consumers. We label higher-risk foods on their packaging or on counter tickets so consumers can make an informed choice.
See our leaflet on Food safety labelling in the downloads section or webpage eating during pregnancy for more information.
We produce specific Factsheets on prominent safety risks. For factsheets see the downloads section.
