# Net weight of content when double packed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2020, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/net-weight-of-content-when-double-packed/847823 "2020-02-12T16:20:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/net-weight-of-content-when-double-packed/847823/1 "2020-02-12T16:20:54Z")
This is in regards to consumer goods which are double packed. Things like tea bags in a pack or sweetener in a pack. Examples : 1. Lipton tea : [Amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com/Lipton-Black-Bags-Americas-Favorite/dp/B00286KM8E/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=lipton+tea+bags&qid=1581524026&sprefix=lipton&sr=8-3) 2. Splenda packets : [Amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com/SPLENDA-Calorie-Sweetener-Packets-Count/dp/B0010XVRXK/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=splenda+packets&qid=1581524062&sprefix=splenda&sr=8-4) For the tea bags, does the net weight labeled on the package represents the weight of the tea leaves inside the bags ? Or the net weight labeled is the weight of the tea bags ? Similar question for the sweetener. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/net-weight-of-content-when-double-packed/847823/2 "2020-02-12T16:49:15Z")
Net weight is the product only not the packaging. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/net-weight-of-content-when-double-packed/847823/3 "2020-02-12T17:06:13Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > Net weight is the product only not the packaging. I think that’s ambiguous since the product can be claimed to be the tea bags or the loose tea inside the bags. Hence the question in the OP. Do you know for sure which one it is ? ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/net-weight-of-content-when-double-packed/847823/4 "2020-02-12T18:31:58Z")
The product is tea (or Splenda), so the weight is for the tea (or Splenda). The packaging is not included in the net weight, and a tea bag is considered packaging. Yes, I used to work for the company behind Lipton, and I dealt with fill weight issues. There is an entire FDA document on fill weight issues and labeling of packages. [I think this is the document with labeling and fill weight (and volume) issues.](https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=fb34a3461008b72de8d4141357347d4f&mc=true&node=pt21.2.101&rgn=div5) ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/net-weight-of-content-when-double-packed/847823/5 "2020-02-12T18:42:50Z")
I did a little more hunting, and [this NIST document](https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2017/04/28/hb133-13-final.pdf) is the one that goes into the gory details of fill weight (and volume). It has been a while since I dealt with this issue. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/net-weight-of-content-when-double-packed/847823/6 "2020-02-12T19:07:27Z")
Thank you mcgato for the detailed answer