A simple request at the butcher ended up becoming a viral story in Spain and reigniting an old debate: after all, should you weigh it before or after chopping the meat? The doubt, apparently harmless, turned out to be enough to divide consumers and professionals in the sector.
The episode was shared by well-known TikTok user @el_as_carnicero, who has gained popularity for showing the daily lives of butchers and clarifying myths about the sector. According to him, a customer asked for the meat to be weighed after it was minced, but the butcher refused the request and responded brusquely, telling him that if he didn’t like it, he could buy it elsewhere.
The case went viral, accumulating thousands of views and hundreds of comments from consumers who shared similar experiences.
Is there a legal basis in Portugal for weighing meat after it has been minced?
In Portugal I did not find a specific standard that requires minced meat to be weighed. after the chopping process as a mandatory rule for the consumer. The applicable legislation mainly regulates the hygienic, technical and labeling conditions of establishments that handle meat.
For example, Decree-Law No. 147/2006, of 31 July, defines the regime of hygienic and technical conditions in the distribution and sale of meat and meat products and imposes weighing, registration and identification obligations at places of sale.
Furthermore, Decree-Law No. 207/2008, which reformulates parts of this regulation, maintains these requirements while establishing technical procedures for the preparation and sale of minced meat.
In summary: Portuguese legislation requires that the sale of meat (including minced meat) complies with hygiene, labeling and recordable weighing rules, but does not specify that weighing must be carried out after of mincing to guarantee justice to the consumer.
After all, when is the right time to weigh in?
According to the tiktoker, who cites his professional experience, there is no legal impediment to weighing the meat after it has been minced. And in fact, this may be the fairest method for the customer. During the mincing process, part of the meat gets stuck in the machine: a loss that, in some cases, amounts to several tens of grams.
In his videos, the butcher demonstrated the difference: a piece of meat weighing 305 grams weighed just 225 grams after passing through the machine. “Around 80 grams are lost in the first pass”, he explained, warning of the fact that many consumers are paying more than they take home.
Consumers report weight differences
According to reports shared on social networks and collected by Spanish media, several consumers say they have already noticed discrepancies. One of them said that he ordered 500 grams of minced meat and, when he got home, it weighed only 352 grams. Others confirm similar losses and say they will start demanding final weighing at the butcher’s shop.
The controversy quickly spread and led many professionals to speak out. Some argue that the weight should be recorded before chopping, following traditional custom, while others recognize that the most transparent method would be to weigh it afterwards, ensuring that the customer pays exactly for what they take.
A question of transparency
@el_as_carnicero himself insists that the essential thing is honesty. “If you work legally, there is no problem weighing the meat after it has been minced,” he said in the video. For him, it is a question of respect for the consumer, more than profit.
In the comments, thousands of users supported the client and admitted that they had never thought about the difference in weight. Others, more skeptical, argue that the variation is minimal and that the important thing is the quality of the product.
True or exaggerated, the discussion once again reminded us that even in the most banal gestures, such as buying minced meat, there can be details that escape most people. And, as this case shows, every gram can really make a difference.
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