Tag: Inedible casing

Over 90% of all sausage varieties in the United States are made with artificial casings, according to some estimates. When it comes to summer sausage, the casing must be peeled off before eating if it is a fibrous, cellulose, or plastic variety, but some casings may be edible.

According to discussions on Reddit, many home cooks are confused about whether they can eat the plastic on sausage, leading to frequent posts and debates. The truth is, some sausage casings are edible, while others are inedible plastic and must be removed for food safety. This widespread confusion highlights the importance of understanding the different types of casings used in food production.

According to the USDA, sausages with inedible casings require a 'Remove casing' warning on the label. Whether to cut off sausage casing depends on if it's edible or synthetic.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), inedible plastic casings, which must be removed, are often used for products like hot dogs, bologna, and certain salamis during processing [1]. Whether the casing on your sausage is edible depends entirely on the type of casing used by the manufacturer, which is not always apparent at first glance. It is a common misconception that all sausage casings are natural and safe to consume, but this is far from the truth, with some casings posing a serious choking hazard.