Battling over Sausage Skin: Still Paying for the Packaging?
- Written by Matthias Urbach
- ~3 Min Read
Controversy over Casing Payment: Paid Twice for Packaging of Sausages? - Ongoing debate over the casing of sausages persists.
On this Tuesday, the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig addressed the subject of liver sausage once again: Is the skin and metal clip part of the product or the package? For the former, it costs money, for the latter, not. However, an EU regulation from 1976 declared that the skin and clips of sausages belong to the product.
Contrarily, the weighing office responsible for the district of Warendorf argued in favor of a newer regulation on food information, which took effect in 2014. This prohibited the sale of a liver sausage with the skin and clips included in the product weight. The labeling stated 130 grams of liver sausage, but in reality, it was less than 128 grams due to the weight of the clip and skin.
The result was a drawn-out legal battle. The Administrative Court ruled in favor of the weighing office, the Higher Administrative Court in favor of the manufacturer. Recently, the ultimate court in these matters, the Federal Administrative Court, tackled the dispute. In a final decision, the court ruled in favor of the weighing office. "The amount of food inside must match what is stated on the outside," explained Judge Ulla Held-Daab, justifying their decision. Non-edible coverings and clips do not count.
The Packaging Rule: Standing the Test of Time
Most consumers probably don't mind paying for the sausage skin. Most consumers may not even be aware of the rules in the food industry. In recent decades, "the Tara" or packaging weight has been a less discussed topic.
The principle of only paying for the actual product and not the package can likely be traced back to the beginning of trade itself. The term Tara originates from the Arabic "taraha", meaning "remove" - and entered German via Italian in the 14th century.
Tara Trickery: Old Problem Rears Its Head Again
In the past, there were numerous complaints to consumer centers: as the packaging was often weighed in on weekly markets, customers were overcharged. Especially with premium products like Parma ham or North Sea crabs, this could quickly amount to 50 cents or more.
The emergence of supermarkets saw the prevalence of pre-packaged goods increase. Manufacturers followed the rules, minimizing complaints. As Armin Valet of the Consumer Center Hamburg told stern, "only the elderly were still concerned about it. The younger generation not so much." A certain level of knowledge about Tara rules might have been lost.
Nevertheless, the problem has resurfaced: With mounting environmental awareness, more and more customers are bringing their own packages. Supermarkets themselves are also offering reusable nets for fruits and vegetables. The checkout staff seemingly find the varying bags, bags, and nets problematic. Last year, the consumer center in Baden-Württemberg conducted 16 test purchases with reusable nets: In more than half of the cases, too much was charged to the test customers.
A Hefty Cotton Bag for Fruit: Weight Matters
Moreover, the new reusable bags are significantly heavier than the plastic bags: A cotton net that consumer protectors bought in the store weighed an impressive 56 grams. If the usual two grams of Tara for the plastic bag are deducted, this does make a difference. With expensive organic fruit, one can pay more than necessary. Customers can hardly check this at the checkout as most stores do not list the Tara on receipts.
Despite this, the industry appears relatively unaffected. In two of the test purchases conducted by the Consumer Advice Centre Baden-Württemberg, the markets undercharged. On the other hand, if you use a self-checkout at Edeka and weigh yourself, you may feel overwhelmed by the variety of options: A Berlin branch offered 18 different tariff weights, ranging from 2 to 222 grams.
Trade: Unfazed by the Packaging Rule
The Food Retail Association (BVLH) regularly states that there is no issue with the tariff rules: "We strictly adhere to the metrology law," says association lawyer Axel Haentjes. "If it's not clear whether a package weighs two grams or four grams, we'll just subtract four grams from the weight."
But what's the solution? Consumers should ensure the tariff key is pressed during weighing at the checkout. Often, the checkout will indicate this. If you can't find the appropriate tariff weight at the self-checkout, it's best to weigh without a bag. In principle, only the product needs to be paid for, not the packaging.
And, as of yesterday, this holds true for liver sausage as well.
Sources: Federal Administrative Court, Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia, BVLH, Consumer Advice Centre Hamburg, Consumer Advice Centre Baden-Württemberg, with dpa
- Packaging
- Food
- Sausage
- Inevitably, the weight of the clip and skin on a liver sausage, considered as packaging under the EU regulation of 1976, can lead to consumers paying for more food than they receive if the product weight on the label includes these items.
- Although some consumers may not mind paying for the sausage skin, the principle of only paying for the actual food and not the packaging can be traced back to ancient times, with the term 'Tara' originating from Arabic meaning 'remove.'
- With the increasing use of reusable bags for shopping, there has been a resurgence of issues related to Tara, as customers may be overcharged due to the varying weights of different bags and nets, with more than half of test purchases conducted by consumer centers in Germany resulting in overcharging.
- In the future, it is essential for consumers to ensure the tariff key is pressed during weighing at the checkout to avoid overpaying for packaging, such as the sausage skin or reusable bags, and only pay for the actual food they are purchasing.
