In the Medieval Ages there was a period when bakers began
cheating the public at such a rate that public outcry reached the ears of several kings. As bread was a daily staple of Medieval life, the bakers knew that they could charge a lot of
money for minimal portions of their products. As such, kings levied laws against bakers stating that they were to lower their pricesand keep honest. In fact the common term "A Baker's Dozen" (meaning 13 instead of
12) came from this time period. Any baker caught selling less than an even dozen was strictly and harshly punished. As a result bakers began adding one
extra loaf to be certain their count would be correct or even over the amount decreed by law.