National Weights and Measures Week is observed each year from March 1 to March 7, marking the anniversary of President John Adams signing the first U.S. weights and measures law on March 2, 1799. The week serves as a reminder of the importance of fair and accurate measurements in daily commerce.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Division of Weights and Measures plays a key role in ensuring accuracy across various transactions, including grocery purchases and fuel sales. Inspectors use certified standards to prevent short weights, overcharges, and deceptive weighing practices. In Louisiana, inspectors examine tens of thousands of devices annually to maintain fairness in the marketplace.
A particular area of concern involves all-you-can-eat restaurants or buffet-style establishments such as hot pot and sushi venues. Many use scales to weigh leftovers or takeout plates for billing purposes. If these scales are not properly calibrated, both customers and businesses may face inaccurate charges or disputes about portion sizes. By law, such scales must be registered and certified by LDAF before being used commercially. The Division oversees all commercial scales to ensure they meet national accuracy standards.
Another issue frequently arises with seafood products like crawfish, shrimp, crabs, as well as nuts and other agricultural goods sold in bulk or pre-packaged forms. Louisiana law requires clear net contents labeling on items such as bags of crawfish using indelible ink or waterproof lettering. Violations include underfilled packages, uncertified scales, or misleading labels that suggest local origin for imported goods. Recent enforcement actions have cited hundreds of restaurants and retailers for failing to disclose imported seafood origins or for labeling issues.
There has also been an increase in sales of local agricultural products through social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace and online sites such as eBay. These sellers are required to follow the same standards as traditional retailers: using certified scales for weight-based sales, providing accurate packaging information including identity, responsibility, net weight declarations, and avoiding misleading claims. Informal sales sometimes fail to meet these requirements.
The LDAF Division encourages consumers to verify compliance when buying from any seller—online or in person—and report suspected violations.
“During National Weights and Measures Week and throughout the year, we would like to remind consumers and businesses alike that accurate weights and measures practices build trust in Louisiana’s markets. If you encounter a questionable scale, package, weighing practice, or online listing, contact LDAF’s Division of Weights and Measures for inspection or guidance. Fair and equitable trade supports our farmers, fishermen, and communities, so let’s all work to keep our measurements honest and transparent. For more information on LDAF’s services, visit ldaf.la.gov or check the latest edition of the Market Bulletin. Thanks for celebrating Weights and Measures Week with us!”
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry provides support statewide for farmers, consumers, industry stakeholders while enforcing regulations related to food safety—including animal health—and promoting agricultural products through various programs (source). The department operates across agriculture, forestry environmental sciences fields (source) with services extending throughout Louisiana (source). Mike Strain serves as commissioner (source).
For more details about programs supporting agriculture conservation resources statewide—including regulation enforcement—visit ldaf.state.la.us.
