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 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 and can be transported in the transport direction , and wherein the transport elements are oriented such that the distance between the transport elements is reduced in the transport region in the direction of the transport direction , at least one crimping element which is arranged on each transport element and protrudes laterally from the transport element , wherein two crimping elements of the spaced-apart transport elements are moved towards one another when moved in the transport direction , and wherein one of the crimping elements , in particular both crimping elements , have: - a fastening section for fastening the crimping element to the transport element , - 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 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 . having two circulating transport elements 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 and can be transported in the transport direction , and wherein the transport elements are oriented such that the distance between the transport elements is reduced in the transport region in the direction of the transport direction , at least one crimping element which is arranged on each transport element and protrudes laterally from the transport element , wherein two crimping elements of the spaced-apart transport elements are moved towards one another when moved in the transport direction , and wherein one of the crimping elements , in particular both crimping elements , have: - a fastening section for fastening the crimping element to the transport element , - 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 are moved towards one another, - a fastening section for fastening the crimping element to the transport element , - 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 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 . <EOS>