Sausage Skin Controversy: Paying for the Packaging Again?
- Author: Matthias Urbach
- Reading Time: Approx. 3 Minutes
Argument over casing cost: Was the wrapper's price added to the sausage totals as well? - Continuing the disagreement over sausage casing.
In a recent court decision, the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig addressed the debate about liver sausage packaging: Is the skin and metal clip part of the product or the packaging? While the European Union's regulation from 1976 stated that the skin and clips belong to the product, a more recent food information regulation from 2014 prohibited the sale of a liver sausage where the skin and clips are included in the product weight. This discrepancy led to a legal battle that culminated in the Federal Administrative Court ruling in favor of the weighing office.
The Recurring Controversy over Tara
Though consumers may be indifferent about paying for sausage skin, the rules surrounding "Tara" (packaging weight) in the food industry have been a topic of debate for decades. Tara is trade terminology for the weight of packaging, and in principle, customers should pay for the product, not the packaging.
Tara fraud was once a common complaint, especially with premium products like Parma ham or North Sea crabs, where excessive packaging weight could quickly inflate the price by 50 cents or more. As supermarkets became the norm, manufacturers began complying with Tara rules, and complaints diminished. Today, younger generations may be less aware of Tara regulations.
However, with growing environmental concerns, customers bring their own reusable packaging, and supermarkets are offering reusable netting for fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, cashiers seem to struggle with the variety of bags, bags, and nets, leading to weight discrepancies on the customer's bill. Last year, the Consumer Advice Center Baden-Württemberg conducted 16 test purchases with reusable nets and found that more than half of the test customers were overcharged.
Weighing the Fruit Bag: A Heavier Problem Today
Furthermore, modern reusable bags are often heavier than traditional plastic bags. A cotton net purchased by consumer advocates at a store weighed an impressive 56 grams. When the usual 2 grams of Tara for the plastic bag is deducted, it can significantly impact the total cost, particularly with expensive organic fruits that can amount to an additional euro or more. Customers rarely have the opportunity to verify the correct Tara weight at the checkout, as most stores do not list the Tara on receipts.
The Trade: No Concern over the Packaging Rule
The German Retail Association for Food (BVLH) has publicly maintained that there is no issue complying with Tara rules. According to association lawyer Axel Haentjes, "We strictly adhere to the metrology law. If it's not clear whether a package weighs two grams or four grams, we'll just subtract four grams from the weight."
So, What Can Consumers Do?
Cashiers often indicate when to press the Tara button during weighing at checkouts. At self-checkouts, customers should weigh their items without a bag when the correct tariff weight is not displayed. Ultimately, only the product should be paid for, not the packaging. This principle applies to liver sausage, following the recent court ruling.
Remaining Keywords:* Packaging* Food* Sausage
Related Trending Topics:* Environmental concerns and consumer goods* Reusable packaging and their impact on pricing* The history of Tara regulations in Germany and the EU
Enrichment Data:While Germany does not have a unique rule regarding food packaging weight, the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) sets a general framework for waste reduction and optimal packaging (1). Nation-specific regulations or industry standards may supplement EU directives for German companies. The PPWR aims to minimize packaging volume and weight, with a slack fill limit of ≤50% (1). It's essential to stay informed about Tara rules and advocacy efforts to preserve fair and transparent pricing for consumers.
- Eur-Lex. (n.d.). Packaging and Packaging Waste. https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/packaging/index_en.htm
- The decision about liver sausage packaging has sparked debates about various food products and their accompanying packaging. For instance, consumers might not be aware of the Tara regulations surroundingreusable bags, which could potentially lead to over-charging.
- As more individuals embrace a home-and-garden lifestyle and adopt eco-friendly practices by bringing their own reusable produce bags, the need for accuracy in packaging weight becomes crucial to ensure fair pricing, similar to the recent liver sausage ruling.
