Does the weight include packaging too?

Today I bought a package of ground round that was labeled as 1.00 lbs. I weighed it on my kitchen digital scales and it came up to 438 grams vs 454 grams. In ounce mode on the digital scales it came up to 15 3/8 ounces vs 16 ounces for a pound.

So not only is the weight well under labeling but apparently the styrofoam and wrap was included. It might not seem like much but I've shopped there for 11 years and known of this discrepancy most of those years. It adds up and it isn't fair.

Are supermarket scales state regulated or is there some local entity responsible for accuracy?

I dunno.
Is that the only sample of data you have?

It should not include the packaging. That is why there is a tare setting on scales.

Ask them to wrap it in butchers paper next time.

Has your kitchen scale been checked as properly calibrated?

I use my powder/ jeweler scale for most everything. I have a proper set of check weights and it has been verified by an actual scientist/ engineer as 100% accurate to its farthest digit as compared to his lab scale. Mine's accurate to .0001 ounce.

Mine's been used at the USPSA Area match chrono station level, so I needed to make sure it was as good as it claimed to be.

Eta: If you file a complaint with the local or state bureau of weights and measures, they should come out forthwith and check the accuracy of their scales and methods. There should be a sticker affixed to the scale stating it has been certified accurate, but the accuracy means nothing if the tare weight of the packaging has not been accurately entered.

Each state has a department responsible for weights and measures, and the accuracy thereof. Usually they are certified as accurate after which is done periodically. You see these most often (I do, anyway) on gasoline pumps?

I imagine they have a local phone number you can call for further inquiry.

ask them to weigh it for you at the cashier checkout, next time

I have four really really good meat guys at the Fareway, but you have to get the same person every time, get to know them ,

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
I dunno.
Is that the only sample of data you have?

The only one I have today and cooking right now. I'm SURE there are any number of examples right there in the store. Like I said, I've noticed it before. In fact, the weight has always been under and that even include the packaging.

It's a small Piggly Wiggly in lower Alabama. It's change hands at least twice in the 11 years I've shopped there and it's always been this way.

WHO can I contact to register a complaint or maybe get someone with authority to check it out ?? Under weight by 5/8th ounce on the pound is unacceptable.

It should NOT.

The scales there should have a "Tare" which is the accounting for the weight of the container or tray which you are not charged for.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
ask them to weigh it for you at the cashier checkout, next time

Absolutely EXCELLENT idea.

My digital kitchen scales aren't calibrated but they sure as hell are more accurate than whatever the Piggly Wiggly set up is.

As above, your State Dept. of Weights and Measures.

http://www.agi.alabama.gov/divisions/weights-measures

quote:

Originally posted by MooneyP226:
As above, your State Dept. of Weights and Measures.

http://www.agi.alabama.gov/divisions/weights-measures

Thank you !!!

This can of Piggly Wiggly Beef Broth is labeled as 411 grams. On my digital kitchen scales ... 445 grams. So yeah, I think the can itself weighing 34 grams isn't unreasonable to guess.

Bottom line is my digital kitchen scales are close but admittedly not calibrated. SOooo ... I could see being off a couple of grams MAYBE if even. BUT not 5/8 ounce on the pound.

I'll have to weigh the empty can when I use it in a few days. It wasn't needed for cooking today.

As others mentioned the weight should be for the product only.

I worked in grocery industry at a major chain for many years when I was younger and I knew of at least a couple Meat Dept managers who were dishonest and would not use a tare because they have gross margin targets and it would greatly help them no doing the tare. Of course they would blame the "wrapper" when it was caught but enough violations and they could be suspended or fired. I would bring it up with the manager on duty next time and have them check your package for correct weight. The store managers, at least the for the chain stores, should take such matters very seriously and in my experience almost all do. Independent stores could be a different matter as the dishonesty could go all the way up the chain.

quote:

Originally posted by Hobbs:
t came up to 15 3/8 ounces vs 16 ounces for a pound.

A wild guess here, maybe if it's more than 15 ounces, they are permitted to round up to the next ounce?

Yes, I do understand that 15 3/8 is closer to 15 than to 16, and true rounding would make it 15, but mathematical logic and regulatory logic do not always agree with each other.

Did you weigh the entire package? Sounds like the "tare" on the scale is either off, or shut off.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by Hobbs:
t came up to 15 3/8 ounces vs 16 ounces for a pound.

A wild guess here, maybe if it's more than 15 ounces, they are permitted to round up to the next ounce?

Yes, I do understand that 15 3/8 is closer to 15 than to 16, and true rounding would make it 15, but mathematical logic and regulatory logic do not always agree with each other.

Not in my experience. Weight should be to a hundredth of a pound. They are also required to have reference weights on hand to check scale accuracy frequently and to make sure it shows zero when nothing is on the scale and tare cleared. When they are weighing meats the scale should show tare as negative weight with nothing on scale and zero when just packaging is on scale. In my experience it usually is deliberate when there is no tare and weighing packaged product. Not using a tare could make a supermarket tens of thousands of additional dollars in net profit in a years time.

quote:

Originally posted by Wreckless:
It should not include the packaging. That is why there is a tare setting on scales.

This, when I worked at Publix supermarket many decades ago, they zero'd the scale out so the styrofoam wasn't included in the weight.

It's very possible your home scale is not totally accurate OR the juice absorption packet in the bottom soaked up that much weight in blood/juice from the meat since they packed it.

No your scale is right in the picture of the canned broth. The can states Net Weight (which does not include the can, just the contents).

quote:

are

If you buy bacon wrapped filet mignon they weigh them after the bacon is on so you are paying $20+ a lb for bacon.

Well, if the price keeps going up, perhaps they're started selling it by Troy weight.