Exhibit 5

                            Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
                            2800 One Atlantic Center
                        1201 West Peachtree Street, N.W.
                           Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3450


                                                WRITER'S DIRECT DIAL NUMBER
                                                     (404) 873-8500
                                                WRITER'S DIRECT FACSIMILE NUMBER
                                                     (404) 873-8501

                                April 4, 2001


SYSCO CORPORATION
1390 Enclave Parkway
Houston, Texas  77077-2027

     Re:      Form S-8 Registration Statement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     This opinion is  furnished in  connection  with the  registration  by SYSCO
Corporation  ("SYSCO")  pursuant to a  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 (the
"Registration  Statement")  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the
"1933 Act"), of an aggregate of 571,920 shares of SYSCO common stock,  $1.00 par
value (the  "Shares"),  which are to be offered  and sold by SYSCO  through  the
following plans: Guest Supply, Inc. 1996 Long Term Incentive Plan and 1993 Stock
Option Plan (collectively, the "Plans").

     In acting as  counsel  to SYSCO,  we have  examined  and  relied  upon such
corporate  records,  documents,  certificates and other instruments and examined
such questions of law as we have  considered  necessary or  appropriate  for the
purposes of this opinion.  In addition,  we assume that the purchase  price,  or
other consideration to be received by SYSCO, per Share will, in all cases, equal
or exceed the par value of a Share. Based upon and subject to the foregoing,  we
advise  you  that  in our  opinion  the  Shares  to be sold  pursuant  to and in
accordance  with the Plans have been duly and validly  authorized and will, upon
receipt in full of the  consideration  provided in the Plans,  and upon issuance
pursuant to a current  prospectus in conformity with the Act, be legally issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.

     We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the  Registration
Statement and the  reference to this firm under the caption  "Interests of Named
Experts and Counsel" contained  therein.  This consent is not to be construed as
an admission  that we are a party whose consent is required to be filed with the
Registration Statement under the provisions of the Act.

                                Sincerely,


                                /s/ ARNALL GOLDEN GREGORY LLP

                                ARNALL GOLDEN GREGORY LLP


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