Controversy over Sausage Casing: Re-purchasing Packaging Materials Yet Again?

Sausage Skin Dispute: Whose Cost is it Anyway?

Written by Matthias Urbach
approximatlely 3-minute read

Argument over Sausage Casings: Paid twice for the wrap-up? - Argument persists over the casing of the sausage

In a recent court ruling, the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig has declared that the casing and metal clip of a liver sausage are part of the packaging, not the product. This decision came after a dispute between a weighing office and a sausage manufacturer,with the former arguing that the outer packaging should reflect only the weight of the edible product.

Initially, an EU regulation from 1976 classified the sausage skin and clips as part of the food. However, a newer regulation on food information that came into force in 2014 prohibits the sale of a liver sausage where the skin and clips are included in the product weight. The reason being, the outer packaging would state a higher weight than the actual product due to the weight of the clip and skin.

Despite the initial ruling from the Higher Administrative Court in favor of the manufacturer, the Federal Administrative Court overturned the decision, favouring the weighing office. The court's decision emphasized that the amount of food inside should match what's stated on the outside, with non-edible casings and clips not counting.

The History of 'Tara' in Trading

While most consumers might not mind paying for the sausage skin, many may not be aware of the rules in the food trade. In the past, Tara, the trade term for packaging weight, has been a contentious issue as it was common for the packaging to be weighed at weekly markets. High-quality items like Parma ham or North Sea crabs could lead to significant overcharging due to the weight of the packaging. With the rise of supermarkets, the sale of pre-packaged goods became dominant, and the issue seemed to have subsided. However, with growing environmental awareness, bringing personal packaging and reusable bags is on the rise. The staff at the cash registers appear to be having difficulty determining the correct Tara.

Modern Tara Conundrum

Last year, the Consumer Advice Centre Baden-Württemberg made 16 test purchases with reusable nets and found that, in more than half of the cases, too much was charged to the test customers. Additionally, new reusable bags are significantly heavier than plastic bags, making it challenging for customers to determine the correct Tara for their purchases. Worryingly, many stores do not list the Tara on receipts.

Balancing Scale of Trade

The Food Retail Association (BVLH) has said that they strictly adhere to the metrology law, and any ambiguity in the packaging weight is deducted from the weight. Still, it's not uncommon for the cash registers to calculate less than the correct Tara in some cases. To avoid overcharging, consumers are advised to press the tariff key during weighing at checkouts and weigh their purchases without a bag where possible.

In light of the recent ruling, the weight of liver sausage and other similar products can now accurately reflect only the weight of the edible product.

Sources: Federal Administrative Court, Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia, BVLH, Consumer Advice Centre Hamburg, Consumer Advice Centre Baden-Württemberg, with dpa

Food
Sausage
Packaging

Additional Insights:

The German Ink Ordinance (GIO) sets regulations for packaging materials, but it does not directly address the question of sausage skins and clips.
The Consumer Advice Centre Baden-Württemberg found that many stores fail to list the Tara on receipts.
The Food Retail Association (BVLH) emphasizes their compliance with the metrology law, even when packaging weight is ambiguous.
With growing environmental awareness, the issue of 'Tara' may become more relevant as consumers switch to bringing their personal packaging and reusable bags.
In the world of shopping, the weight of a liver sausage now reflects only the edible product, with the casing and clip considered part of the packaging, as ruled by the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig.
The modern era of trade faces challenges with the proper calculation of 'Tara' or packaging weight, with surprising overcharging incidents documented by the Consumer Advice Centre Baden-Württemberg, especially in cases involving reusable bags.