600-year-old bratwurst recipe shows there were already consumer protection laws in the Middle Ages

[kurth]

Historian finds oldest recipe for bratwurst

BERLIN (Reuters) - A hobby historian has discovered the oldest known recipe for German sausage, a list of ingredients for Thuringian bratwurst nearly 600 years old.

According to the 1432 guidelines, Thuringian sausage makers had to use only the purest, unspoiled meat and were threatened with a fine of 24 pfennigs -- a day's wages -- if they did not, a spokesman for the German Bratwurst Museum said Wednesday.

Medieval town markets in Germany had committees charged with monitoring the quality of produce. Thuringian bratwursts, which are made of beef and pork, are symbols of Germany's cultural heritage and ubiquitous snacks at football matches.

Historian Hubert Erzmann, 75, found the ancient recipe, inscribed with pen and ink in a heavy tome of parchment, earlier this year while doing research in an archive in the eastern town of Weimar, museum spokesman Thomas Maeuer said. "The discovery shows that there were already consumer protection laws in the Middle Ages," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071101/od_nm/germany_bratwurst_dc;_ylt=Anif8NR2lQQKlvpCSX.xCpKs0NUE

[babylonsister]

1. I have to rec'd this for the novelty alone! We could/should take lessons! nt

[Rex]

2. The commercial revolution.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook1j.html#Roots%20of%20the%20Commercial%20Revolution

[Cobalt-60]

3. mmmmm Thuringian Braaatwurst

I'll take 4, please

[Recursion]

4. Back then, unions (guilds) were the strongest forces in the economy

Even nobles had to take the guilds' positions into consideration because they wielded so much power. And one thing they did was make sure that people making and selling things kept them up to a certain quality.

[Richard Steele]

5. Well, I knew they established purity laws for beer in 1516...

This record predates that by another 84 years? Cool! :thumbsup:

So, how long until someone uses that recipe and starts
selling "1432™ brand" bratwurst? I'd like to try one.

[DCKit]

11. Mmmmmmmm, Becks!!!!! nt

[MichaelHarris]

6. todays bratwurst

could last 600 years what with all the preservatives.

[133724]

9. You expect me to eat 600 year old brats????? not just no but Hell No.....

[Tactical Progressive]

7. So Republicans actually want to take us back to BEFORE the Middle Ages

with their mindless 'goddam guvernment' hatred and hog-tied regulatory enforcement.

[nosmokes]

8. Touche! It's the serfs , they're obsessed

with the idea of serfs and crusades. Although they have Monsanto diligently working on a genetically engineered variant of the plague for a more authentic atmosphere.

[Lisa]

12. even before the Roman Empire!

Some emperors passed laws restricting what owners could do to their slaves. Even Nero (not exactly known for empathy) allowed slaves to complain about harsh treatment, in court.

[Trajan]

10. This Atheist will point out ...

The Hebrews had Kosher dietary laws long before this ..... Purity was a part of this .....