NCDA&CS Standards Division seal of approval
The dog days of summer are here and as the temperature goes up, many people may choose to cool down with a refreshing frozen yogurt treat. One thing is for certain, they won’t have a hard time finding a place to satisfy that craving, because frozen yogurt shops have popped up all over the state.
A lot of visitors to these shops may be unaware that although they must pay by weight for their frozen yogurt and all the treats heaped on top of it, they shouldn’t be paying for the container. The weight of the container is referred to as a tare weight, and it must be removed from the product weight.
“We urge consumers to be vigilant and check their receipts or ask the salesperson if the cost of the cup has been deducted from the sale,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Our job is to protect consumers, and one of the ways we do this is to make sure you pay only for product, not packaging. If you think you have been charged for the packaging weight or if a business is using a scale that has not been inspected, you can report this at 919-707-3225.”
The NCDA&CS Standards Division inspects scales at all retail establishments that sell to customers by weight. These include grocery stores, coffee shops, buffet restaurants and candy stores. Commercial scales at point of sale should be in view of customers and show a seal of approval from the Standards Division.
“We are working with businesses to make sure they know the rules,” said Stephen Benjamin, director of the Standards Division. “In the case of frozen yogurt containers, it could add up to 40 cents per cup to the total price. That adds up if you are buying for a family of four.”