Dateline NBC, after interviewing health inspectors and touring dozens of supermarkets all over the country,
compiled a list of the 10 least hygienic supermarkets in the country. From expired milk and deli meats to lack of
hot water in employee bathrooms, there were many violations that were not immediately obvious to the customer's eyes,
but the hidden cameras caught blatantly unhygienic practices and major health and sanitation violations, like dead
insects in food products. After analyzing the data from inspections in 2005 of 1,000 stores in 27 states from the each
of the top ten grocery chains, the list was final. From fewest violations to most, the least sanitary supermarket
chains are:
- Food Lion
- Wal-Mart
- Save-a-Lot
- Costco
- Sam's Club
- Wynn-Dixie
- Kroger
- Publix
- Albertsons
- Safeway
According to the company responses received by Dateline, all the companies are vowing to improve in every area where a critical violation was received. They emphasize that customers who see a violation should report it to the store manager immediately so the problem can be dealt with.



