The Great Sausage Skin Debate: Is it product or packaging?
- PENNED BY Matthias Urbach
- READING TIME - Approx. 3 Mins
Sausage casing controversy: Did you unknowingly pay for the wrapping once more? - Argument persists over sausage casing choice
The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig tackled a meaty issue on Tuesday: is the casing and metal clip on liver sausages part of the product or the packaging? The former - you pay for, the latter - you don't. The debate seemed settled by an EU regulation from 1976, asserting that these components belong to the product.
However, the local calibration office in the district of Warendorf stirred the pot by citing a newer regulation concerning food information introduced in 2014. According to this regulation, it is illegal to sell a liver sausage with the skin and clips included within the product weight. The outer packaging might declare 130 grams of liver sausage, but in reality, it would be less than 128 grams - thanks to the weight of the clip and casing.
This legalese bladework led to a protracted court battle. The administrative court sided with the calibration office, while the higher administrative court backed the manufacturer. On Tuesday, the highest court in the land, the Federal Administrative Court, ruled in favor of the calibration office. "The edible content inside should match what's outside," explained Judge Ulla Held-Daab in her verdict. Non-edible casings and clips don't count.
The Packaging Rule: As old as the Trade itself
Most consumers probably don't bat an eye at paying for the sausage casing. Many might not even be aware of the rules governing the food industry. The topic of "Tara" - a trade term for "packaging weight," specifically the weight deduction for packaging - has been under wraps for decades. In essence, only the product should be paid for, not the packaging.
The trend to pay solely for the product might as well be as old as commerce itself. The term Tara comes from the Arabic "taraha," which means "remove" and made its way into German via Italian during the 14th century.
A Return of Tara fraud
In the past, Tara-related complaints flooded consumer centers due to the frequent weighing of packaging on the weekly market, causing consumers to pay too much, especially for high-value products like Parma ham or North Sea crabs. The transition to supermarkets saw manufacturers adhering to regulations, which subsequently minimized complaints. "Only the older generation cared about that," Armin Valet of the Consumer Center Hamburg told stern, "the younger ones not so much." Familiarity with the Tara rules may have waned.
However, the problem seems to be resurfacing: with increasing environmental awareness, more consumers are bringing their own packaging, and supermarkets are offering reusable nets for fruits and vegetables. The cashiers appear to struggle with the different bags, pouches, and nets. Last year, the Consumer Center Baden-Württemberg made 16 test purchases with reusable nets: in more than half of the cases, test customers were overcharged.
Heavy reusable bags: A new burden
Additionally, the new reusable bags are considerably heavier than the plastic bags: a cotton net purchased by consumer protectionists for their test weighed a remarkable 56 grams. After deducting the usual 2 grams of Tara for the plastic bag, the difference can indeed add up - especially with expensive organic fruit. Customers generally can't check for this at the checkout, as most shops don't display the Tara on receipts.
Nonetheless, the system doesn't seem to be causing much trouble. In two of the test purchases conducted by the Verbraucherzentrale Baden-Württemberg, the markets undercharged. And if, for instance, you use the self-checkout at Edeka and weigh your items yourself, you'll be inundated by a plethora of options: a Berlin branch offered 18 different tare weights, ranging from 2 to 222 grams.
Shops: No Hurdles with the Packaging Rule
The Food Retail Association BVLH also frequently affirms that there are no issues with the tare rules: "We strictly comply with metrology law," says association lawyer Axel Haentjes. "If it's not clear whether a package weighs two grams or four grams, we'll simply subtract four grams from the weight."
So what can consumers do? When shopping, press the tare button on the checkout scale when weighing items. The cash register usually indicates this. If you can't find the correct tare weight at the self-checkout, it's best to weigh without a bag. In essence, only the product should be paid for, not the packaging.
And don't forget: as of Tuesday, the Tara rule applies to liver sausages, too.
Sources: Federal Administrative Court, Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia, BVLH, Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg, Verbraucherzentrale Baden-Württemberg, with dpa
- Consumer Awareness
- Food Industry
- Sausage
Enrichment Data:
The "Tara rule" primarily impacts the FDA's determination that tara flour does not meet the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) standard, effectively banning its use in human food in the U.S.[2][5]. However, indirectly, regulatory actions could influence product formulation and potentially costs if manufacturers opt for alternative ingredients. For consumers seeking transparency, it's essential to:
- Check Labels: Look for clear labeling that includes weight, ingredients, and nutritional content. New FDA regulations demand clearer labeling, including QR codes linking to additional product information[3][4].
- Verify Net Weight: Ensure the packaging clearly states the net weight of the product to avoid paying for air or excessive packaging.
- Understand Ingredients: If ingredients change due to regulations like the one affecting tara flour, assess the impact on pricing. Products with safer or more sustainable ingredients might be priced differently.
- Compare Prices: Shop around and compare prices among different brands to find the best value for money.
- Promote Transparency: Encourage manufacturers to provide transparent and honest packaging that reflects the true content and cost of the product.
- Given the Federal Administrative Court's ruling on liver sausages, it is illegal for edible content to be less than the declared weight due to non-edible casings and clips.
- Consumers are advised to be aware of the Tara rule, which dictates that only the product should be paid for, not the packaging, to avoid overpaying, especially with reusable bags.
- The Tara rule has been a topic in the food industry for centuries, tracing back to the Arabic term "taraha," meaning "remove."
- With increasing environmental awareness, some consumers are bringing their own packaging or using reusable nets for fruits and vegetables, but these practices might lead to Tara-related issues at the checkout.
