Beverage producers’ survey finds ‘clear majority’ of Swiss oppose a sugar tax
Based on a survey of 1,002 respondents of voting age, a Swiss soft drink industry group says that most Swiss reject the idea of a sugar tax, believing that dietary habits should fall under the scope of individual responsibility rather than government measures.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Swiss Association of Mineral Water and Soft Drinks Producers/cl
“For the fifth consecutive year, we show that the Swiss population remains faithful to its position resolutely opposed to state regulations, with 72% rejecting a sugar tax,” a press statement on Wednesday declared.
This view, the authors conclude, is consistent with the government’s current policy of relying on voluntary measures and collaboration with the food industry when it comes to controlling sugar intake.
Individual responsibility
The requirement to include nutritional reference values on food and beverage labels was introduced at the European level in 2014. According to the statement, some 84% of people now use such labels, and 74% of participants in the survey would be in favour of including a three-couloured “traffic light” system for labelling foods in the law as well.
“The desire for clear guidance cannot be equated with the desire for harsher regulation but is in keeping with the significant value that remains attached to individual responsibility,” the authors conclude.
Some 71% of survey respondents also said they believed a sugar tax would be ineffective and have no influence on sugar consumption.
In addition to the survey results, the Information Group on Soft Drinks stated that it “resolutely rejects” a sugar tax based on the arguments that targeting specific food and drink items oversimplifies “multifactorial” conditions like cavities, obesity and diabetes; that soft drinks account for less than 10% of the average daily sugar consumption in Switzerland; that Swiss mineral and soft drink producers reduced the sugar content of their products by more than 13% between 2005 and 2016; and that such measures can increase the financial burden on consumers and unfairly affect low-income households.
More
More
Sugar content in food to be reduced further
This content was published on
The interior ministry and the Swiss food industry have agreed to further cut sugar in yogurts and breakfast cereals as part of the official strategy.
This content was published on
Nemo brought the Eurovision Song Contest to Switzerland with a victory on Saturday evening in Malmö, Sweden. It is Switzerland's third victory in the history of the music contest.
Switzerland abstains from vote on Palestinian bid for full UN membership
This content was published on
On Friday, Switzerland abstained from the vote at the General Assembly on granting the Palestinians new rights at the United Nations (UN).
Protein in abdominal fat could help shape obesity treatment
This content was published on
The study analysed fat cells from different locations in the body, and found that those in the abdomen have unique properties.
North African asylum claims fall after rapid Swiss processing
This content was published on
The accelerated procedure, now out of its test phase, has resulted in a significant drop in applications from North African countries.
This content was published on
The artist's song "The Code" focuses on their journey as a nonbinary individual. It is one of the favourites to win this year's contest.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Are low-sugar treats an option in the land of chocolate?
This content was published on
Companies in Switzerland have started voluntarily reducing sugar in their products, but it’s proving quite a challenge for the industry.
This content was published on
Some 23% of Swiss people say a new tax should be imposed on food with high sugar, salt or fat content, up from 19% last year, according to a new survey by the gfs.bern institute published on Tuesday. Of those questioned, 72% want a ban on the advertising of junk food targeting children, up from…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.