Battle over liver sausage casing: Did you really pay for the wrapper again?
- by Matthias Urbach
- approx reading time: 3 Min
Controversy over Sausage Casing: Was the Additional Charge for Packaging Applicable? - arguement over the type of casing for the sausage persists
In a recent court case, the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig addressed the issue of liver sausage: Is the casing and clip a part of the product or the ** packaging**? The consumer typically pays for the product, not the packaging. A ruling by the Federal Administrative Court on Tuesday, however, states otherwise.
The case originated from a dispute over a liver sausage weighing 130 grams, as indicated on the outer packaging. However, in reality, it was only 128 grams — due to the weight of the clip and casing. This led to a legal battle that lasted for years. Unfortunately for the manufacturer, the highest court in such matters, the Federal Administrative Court, ruled in favor of the weighing office.
Judge Ulla Held-Daab explained her decision: "The amount of food inside must match what's on the outside." Non-edible wrappers and clips do not count.
Tara regulations: Ancient rules for modern trade
Though consumers may not care about paying for sausage casings, it's been a hot topic for centuries. Tara is the industry term for "packaging weight," essentially referring to the weight that doesn't count as part of the product. The concept has been around since the early days of trade and comes from the Arabic "taraha," meaning "remove."
Historically, consumers expressed concerns about paying too much for excess weight at the market, particularly high-quality products like Parma ham or North Sea crabs. The rise of supermarkets and pre-packaged goods eliminated those issues, but now, with growing environmental awareness, reusable packaging is back on the scene. Some supermarkets offer reusable nets for fruit and vegetables, but checkout staff may struggle with the variety of bag types.
Bargaining with bags: A modern consumer challenge
In assessing reusable bags, it's crucial to understand the Tara rule: A cotton net purchased by consumer advocates for testing weighed a hefty 56 grams, far more than the typical 2 grams of Tara for plastic bags. Considering this, then weighing organic fruit, it's easy to overpay at the checkout by a euro or more. Customers will find little help in obtaining accurate Tara amounts, as stores often do not list this information on receipts.
Last year, the Consumer Advice Center Baden-Württemberg conducted 16 test purchases with reusable nets: In more than half of the cases, the centers were charged too much. On the flip side, two of the tests revealed that markets calculated too little. When using self-checkouts, the challenge of different bags, bags, and nets becomes even more difficult, as some stores offer up to 18 tariff weights for consumers to choose from.
Embracing change in the food industry
The German Retail Association for Food (BVLH) responds, often stating that there is no pain associated with the tariff rules: "We strictly adhere to the metrology law," explains association lawyer Axel Haentjes. However, the increasing awareness and concern about packaging waste may prompt changes in the industry. For now, however, consumers should ensure that the tariff button is pressed during weighing at the checkout. If weighing without a bag, remember that only the product should be paid for.
This decision also applies to liver sausage, following the ruling by the Federal Administrative Court on Tuesday.
Sources: Federal Administrative Court, Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia, BVLH, Consumer Advice Center Hamburg, Consumer Advice Center Baden-Württemberg, with dpa
- Packaging
- Food
- Sausage
- The controversy over liver sausage packaging highlighted the question of whether the casing and clip are part of the product or packaging.
- In assessing reusable bags, it's crucial for consumers to understand the Tara rule, as a cotton net can weigh significantly more than the typical Tara for plastic bags, potentially leading to overpayment at the checkout.
- The German Retail Association for Food stated their adherence to metrology law, but growing concerns about packaging waste may prompt changes in the industry.
- The ruling by the Federal Administrative Court on liver sausage packaging also applies to food products like sausage, emphasizing the importance of accurate weighing at checkouts to avoid paying for non-edible packaging.
