topic Re: Less meat in package than stated on label in Community Chat

Less meat in package than stated on label

caroln242 — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 19:00:06 GMT

I've been weighing hamburger and breakfast sausage packages for months and I found that they consistently weigh less than what is stated on the label. I reported one sausage company to my state Dept. of Agriculture Weights and Measures division and got some song and dance about tare weight versus gross weight, etc. I don't care what they say, if the package says NET weight 16 ounces, I expect to have bought 1 pound of meat.

I quit buying hamburger in the plastic roll because a couple times I found half of it fat. I decided I would buy the more expensive package of store wrapped hamburger, thinking I wouldn't get ripped off, weight-wise. Well, today I came home with a pound of hamburger, opened it up, slapped it on my digital scale. It was 1.25 ounces short of a pound. I put the packaging on top of the meat and it registered a tidge over 1 pound. So much for the label saying NET weight 16 ounces. And I really don't think a whole 1.25 ounce of "fluid" leaked into the tray pad.

I haven't weighed all of the meat I bring home, but I imagine I'm also getting ripped off when buying roasts, chicken, and chops.

Can you imagine how much money the stores are saving by ripping off millions of customers an ounce at a time? And complaining seems to get nothing done about it.

I suppose I could go to the butcher shop for certain meats, but the added cost (they are always more expensive) doesn't seem to make sense.

Sorry for the rant. I just hate getting ripped off.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

scatcat — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 19:07:26 GMT

I think sometimes you're ripped off a few cents, sometimes you've made a few cents.

Personally I'm not going to get fluffed up, weigh stuff, call companies etc. It's just not good for my mental health. It bodes me well not to be a victim.

Just my opinion

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

DiAnne — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 19:12:16 GMT

Maybe you should shop some place else.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

NicksmomESQ — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 23:54:23 GMT

I understand that you're upset. Different things bother different people. Something like this doesn't bother me because I don't have the time to weigh everything I buy. Nor do I want to.An ounce here or there has no impact on the amount of food I put on the table.

Also realize that scales can vary.Calibrating every scale to be identical in measurement I'm guessing is next to impossible.

I have more important things to stress over.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

millieshops — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 19:17:19 GMT

@caroln242 If you think this is happening repeatedly at the same store, you need better info. Weigh several packages to make certain you're "always" being shorted, but weigh the meat WITH the blotting paper. I have no idea what that might weigh , but i suspect it could be just a bit if the meat was ground within the hour and more if it had been sitting for some hours.

Also, be sure your digital scale is accurate to that quarter ounce.

Once you are more certain of your complaint, then decide where to take it.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

caroln242 — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 19:20:41 GMT

@DiAnne wrote:
Maybe you should shop some place else.

I have. One place was a big box store (that we're all familiar with) and another was a major nationwide chain grocery store. I guess they ALL do the same thing.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

nana59 — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 19:21:16 GMT

@scatcat wrote:
I think sometimes you're ripped off a few cents, sometimes you've made a few cents.

Personally I'm not going to get fluffed up, weigh stuff, call companies etc. It's just not good for my mental health. It bodes me well not to be a victim.

Just my opinion

i agree....i understand what she's saying....but if she doesn't deal with it....she might have to spend money on medication....hope she takes care of herself......

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

caroln242 — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 19:23:27 GMT

@scatcat wrote:
I think sometimes you're ripped off a few cents, sometimes you've made a few cents.

Personally I'm not going to get fluffed up, weigh stuff, call companies etc. It's just not good for my mental health. It bodes me well not to be a victim.

Just my opinion

But I AM a victim if I'm getting ripped off. Sticking my head in the sand about it just isn't my way.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

Trinity11 — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 19:26:02 GMT

I pick and choose my battles. An ounce of meat missing isn't on my radar for feeling "ripped off."

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

Sooner — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 19:41:08 GMT

You are more likely to get ripped off by the quality and fat content of the burger meat you buy than simply weight.

Fat is scraps. The more fat, the more you pay for scraps. I try to find butcher shops or retailers that sell better burger than what you would get in a package where you wouldn't see what you are getting.

Burgers should be fresh, smell fresh, not have a lot of white fat specks, and cook without water coming out. A lot of the cheaper stuff is injected with water, and part of it is that super ground pink slime as they call it.

If nothing else, if you have a KitchenAid mixer get the grinder attachment and buy chuck, sirloin or round and grind yourself. You can also use a food processor (read up on it before you do it) but the KA grinder is better.

Burger meat doesn't need to be inferior. Often you get what you pay for here.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

RespectLife — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 19:57:40 GMT

The way it sounds ...you are stating that more than one place does the same thing and you are consistently being over charged.

That is a loss you won't accept. So wouldn't the extra cost going to a butcher be worth it? And IMHO, you get fresher and better meat.

In your book, you are losing money. At a butcher shop, you will be paying for exactly what you receive.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

smb3 — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 20:08:16 GMT

I always wondered if the pad under the meat is included in as the total "weight" of the meat because when you open the package and take the meat out, the pad has weight to it.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

SilleeMee — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 20:08:38 GMT

Is your scale accurate? Take it to the store and have the meat weighed on their scale first and then weigh it on your scale. Show them what you see.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

Mindy D — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 23:01:10 GMT

@caroln242 @I think you're on to something. I think consumers are not getting what they paid for and no one is complaining because no one has been checking. They also inject meat and poultry with liquids which jack up the weight. Does the USDA regulate this? Do they care? Is there another agency that regulates this? You might want to contact news agencies if you want to being this into the public eye. Thank you for letting me know about this.

@caroln242 Infound this.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwia8oOljIHvAhWBWM0KHdcuDkIQFjAAegQIBBAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2008%2F09%2F09%2FE8-20559%2Fdetermining-net-weight-compliance-for-meat-and-poultry-products&usg=AOvVaw2CuiLp0HWE_O7UkcMQE3K6

@caroln242 and this, which states that weight may vary.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiq9arsjYHvAhVMZ80KHa-QAlg4FBAWMAZ6BAgJEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmeatscience.org%2Fdocs%2Fdefault-source%2Fpublications-resources%2Ffact-sheets%2Fanatomy-of-a-meat-product-label.pdf%3Fsfvrsn%3Daa518eb3_0&usg=AOvVaw1ejBx3RznivExirXnjXicB

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

caroln242 — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 20:26:44 GMT

@Mindy D wrote:
@caroln242 @I think you're on to something. I think consumers are not getting what they paid for and no one is complaint because no one has been checking. They also inject meat and poultry with liquids which jack up the weight. Does the USDA regulate this? Do they care? Is there another agency that regulates this? You might want to contact news agencies if you want to being this into the public eye. Thank you for letting me know about this.

Thanks for your comment! Maybe there's a consumer watch dog group out there. I never thought about that. I have no "proof" of being shorted meat other than my digital scale which hasn't been inspected or verified except for me weighing a pound of butter, which was right on the money!

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

KatieB — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 22:24:18 GMT

You must have too much time on your hands to weigh the meat you purchase. I've never even thought of doing such a thing.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

Carmie — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 22:25:22 GMT

A few companies have already been fined and sued for this. McDonalds is one business that comes to mind with their Quarter Pounders being less than 4 oz.

This is stealing from consumers. It might only be an ounce here and an ounce there, but it adds up to millions in a year's time.

This needs to stop. This is why Class Action lawsuits exist.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 23:02:17 GMT

@caroln242 wrote:
I've been weighing hamburger and breakfast sausage packages for months and I found that they consistently weigh less than what is stated on the label. I reported one sausage company to my state Dept. of Agriculture Weights and Measures division and got some song and dance about tare weight versus gross weight, etc. I don't care what they say, if the package says NET weight 16 ounces, I expect to have bought 1 pound of meat.

I quit buying hamburger in the plastic roll because a couple times I found half of it fat. I decided I would buy the more expensive package of store wrapped hamburger, thinking I wouldn't get ripped off, weight-wise. Well, today I came home with a pound of hamburger, opened it up, slapped it on my digital scale. It was 1.25 ounces short of a pound. I put the packaging on top of the meat and it registered a tidge over 1 pound. So much for the label saying NET weight 16 ounces. And I really don't think a whole 1.25 ounce of "fluid" leaked into the tray pad.

I haven't weighed all of the meat I bring home, but I imagine I'm also getting ripped off when buying roasts, chicken, and chops.

Can you imagine how much money the stores are saving by ripping off millions of customers an ounce at a time? And complaining seems to get nothing done about it.

I suppose I could go to the butcher shop for certain meats, but the added cost (they are always more expensive) doesn't seem to make sense.

Sorry for the rant. I just hate getting ripped off.

@caroln242

You are planning to tell this to the grocery retailer, I hope?

If they are selling anything improperly described or labeled, there's a legal liability that I am SURE they would want to know about .... I hope you have some "evidence" and documentation .... you'd being doing all of us a favor.

IMO, this is one situation where it is appropriate to make a stink about the discrepancies.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

Ladybug724 — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 23:27:45 GMT

If this is happening I don't care if it's a one ounce discrepency or a one pound discrepency. They shouldn't be doing this, and if they are, think of all of the extra money they're making with all of the packages of meat sold daily. Funny, I wonder why it's a few ounces under and not over? It sounds like it's done purposely.

OP, Next time you're at the store, take a random package of meat out of the pre-packaged meat case and take it to the butcher counter to have it weighed in front of you.

Re: Less meat in package than stated on label

CLHS68 — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 23:28:56 GMT

It is happening with everything. Cake mixes & Ice cream are smaller same price. This is only 2 examples.