German bakery equips branches with scales to comply with weights and measures laws

The bakery Der obere Beck, based near Ludwigsburg, has invested approximately 100,000 euros to equip eleven of its branches with scales. This move follows regulatory scrutiny regarding the sale of halved loaves and bread slices without precise weight measurements.

Under the German Weights and Measures Act (Mess- und Eichgesetz) and the Prepackaged Goods Ordinance (Fertigpackungsverordnung), weight specifications in commercial transactions are only permitted if determined by a measuring device. For unpackaged bread exceeding 250 grams, the nominal weight must be displayed on a sign. When a loaf is halved at the counter, it no longer carries a marked weight, necessitating a scale to ensure accurate pricing.

Regulations also dictate strict weight tolerances. For example, in a batch of 1 kg loaves, no single loaf may weigh less than 970 grams. While the bakery in question is implementing these measures, industry representatives indicate that other businesses are also beginning to upgrade their equipment to meet these legal requirements.