Swiss go crazy for pasta
Pasta fever is running at a record high in Switzerland. Last year, the Swiss ate their way through an average 10,1 kilogrammes each, a five per cent increase on the previous year's figure.
Pasta fever is running at a record high in Switzerland. Last year, the Swiss ate their way through an average 10,1 kilogrammes each, a five per cent increase on the previous year’s figure.
The Swiss Pasta Association said the Swiss consumed 72,240 tonnes of pasta in 1999, which led to a 19.6 per cent rise in pasta imports. Ninety per cent of these came from Italy.
In contrast, however, the eight Swiss producers of pasta failed to profit from the rise in consumption. They sold 50,732 tonnes in 1999 in Switzerland, the same quantity as the year before.
Exports of Swiss pasta fell by 3.9 per cent. The Pasta Association attributed the drop to high import taxes levied by the European Union. The Association hoped that the bilateral accords between Switzerland and the EU would make it easier for them to increase their exports and join in the pasta frenzy.
From staff and wire reports
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