A separating device for separating portions of elongate casings filled with food mixture, in particular sausage portions of alginate casings filled with sausage meat, having two circulating transport elements (16a, 16b) which are spaced from one another, can be driven by means of at least one drive and each have a transport region, which is moved in a transport direction during operation, and a return region, wherein the filled casing can be introduced between the transport regions of the two transport elements (16a, 16b) and can be transported in the transport direction, and wherein the transport elements (16a, 16b) are oriented such that the distance between the transport elements (16a, 16b) is reduced in the transport region in the direction of the transport direction, at least one crimping element (24a, 24b) which is arranged on each transport element (16a, 16b) and protrudes laterally from the transport element (16a, 16b), wherein two crimping elements (24a, 24b) of the spaced-apart transport elements (16a, 16b) are moved towards one another when moved in the transport direction, and wherein one of the crimping elements (24a, 24b), in particular both crimping elements (24a, 24b), have: - a fastening section for fastening the crimping element (24a, 24b) to the transport element (16a, 16b), - a crimping section which extends from the fastening section and has two arms which open from a main section, - a counter holder which is designed to press a crimping section of the crimping element arranged on the opposite transport element against the crimping section of the crimping element with a contact force (F K) when the crimping elements (24a, 24b) are moved towards one another, characterised in that the counter holder is flexible such that it applies a preloading force (Fv) to the crimping element arranged on the opposite transport element to improve the separating effect of the crimping elements (24a, 24b). having two circulating transport elements (16a, 16b) which are spaced from one another, can be driven by means of at least one drive and each have a transport region, which is moved in a transport direction during operation, and a return region, wherein the filled casing can be introduced between the transport regions of the two transport elements (16a, 16b) and can be transported in the transport direction, and wherein the transport elements (16a, 16b) are oriented such that the distance between the transport elements (16a, 16b) is reduced in the transport region in the direction of the transport direction, at least one crimping element (24a, 24b) which is arranged on each transport element (16a, 16b) and protrudes laterally from the transport element (16a, 16b), wherein two crimping elements (24a, 24b) of the spaced-apart transport elements (16a, 16b) are moved towards one another when moved in the transport direction, and wherein one of the crimping elements (24a, 24b), in particular both crimping elements (24a, 24b), have: - a fastening section for fastening the crimping element (24a, 24b) to the transport element (16a, 16b), - a crimping section which extends from the fastening section and has two arms which open from a main section, - a counter holder which is designed to press a crimping section of the crimping element arranged on the opposite transport element against the crimping section of the crimping element with a contact force (F K) when the crimping elements (24a, 24b) are moved towards one another, - a fastening section for fastening the crimping element (24a, 24b) to the transport element (16a, 16b), - a crimping section which extends from the fastening section and has two arms which open from a main section, - a counter holder which is designed to press a crimping section of the crimping element arranged on the opposite transport element against the crimping section of the crimping element with a contact force (F K) when the crimping elements (24a, 24b) are moved towards one another, characterised in that the counter holder is flexible such that it applies a preloading force (Fv) to the crimping element arranged on the opposite transport element to improve the separating effect of the crimping elements (24a, 24b).