What matters most in your choice of meat products and why?

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I cover food and agribusiness and have a special interest in sustainable supply chains, food safety and quality, as well emerging players and trends in the food industry. A background in forestry and conservation biology led me down the path of environmental advocacy. Journalism and Switzerland made me a neutral observer who holds companies accountable for their actions.

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在选择肉制品时，您更看重质量，还是价格？为什么？

After being hit with steep US tariffs of 39%, Switzerland is now trying to negotiate a better deal for its exports. The Alpine nation might have to lower tariffs on American imports like beef and chicken to get some relief.

Agribusiness

Can Switzerland lower agricultural tariffs to negotiate a better deal with the US?

This content was published on Sep 15, 2025 The European Union, which wrangled a much lower US tariff, offered concessions on certain food imports. Is this an option for Switzerland?

However, certain American farming practices are banned in other countries: cattle are treated with growth-promoting hormones and chicken meat is disinfected with chlorine-based solutions, for example.

Would this put you off from buying American produce or is price the key factor?

TXgirlUS 2025-10-08 23:39

As a US Rancher raising mainly Angus cattle, there is a lot of inaccurate information concerning the use of hormone. Our meat is free of hormones and all our Cattle are grass fed. Many other Ranchers don't use hormones and take pride in producing high quality beef. It is the Swiss Importers that can demand hormone free product from the US if they choose so.

Jorg Hiker 2025-10-04 13:13

Price, price, price! Meat is horribly expensive In Switzerland. Why discussion about food prices is still dominated by welfare of animals, not welfare of pensioners who are often squeezed by food prices

Anand Chandrasekhar SWI SWISSINFO.CH 2025-10-17 15:27

@Jorg Hiker

Do you restrict meat consumption because of high Swiss prices?

Jorg Hiker 2025-10-28 01:02

@Anand Chandrasekhar

Yes, of course. But I spend relatively little time in Switzerland and can live without meat for a week - but see local Swiss pensioners who are often squeezed financially. High prices also turn to poor health and early death - many Swiss pensioners find they can buy either food or heating or medicines but not all three. This results in undernourished people in underheated houses with inadequate medicines dying early. This is well discussed health hazard in many foreign countries 'food bill or medicine bill', but not publicly debated in Switzerland.

Ntee1 2025-09-16 13:30

I find this entire situation deeply disappointing. That Switzerland should be pressured into harming its own farmers and citizens to resolve a problem created abroad, and driven by jealousy, is unacceptable. At what point will countries stand together against the heavy-handed policies of the current U.S. administration? ____Time and again, we see nations offering costly concessions just to reduce tariffs. But Switzerland has always prided itself on the quality of our food. Yes, our groceries are expensive - but what we are really paying for is quality, sustainability, and the humane treatment of our animals. Allowing U.S. beef into our country would not just threaten public health; it would undermine the Swiss Farmer’s Union, destabilize local agriculture, and compromise our moral compass. ____Every franc we spend is a vote. No matter how much cheaper U.S. beef may appear, I will not support it. I would rather invest in protecting our farmers, our food standards, and the values that define Switzerland.

Anand Chandrasekhar SWI SWISSINFO.CH 2025-09-17 11:29

@Ntee1

Thank you for sharing your views. What about Swiss food products like cheese facing 39% tariffs in the US? Are they not hurting Swiss farmers

What matters most in your choice of meat products and why?

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Can Switzerland lower agricultural tariffs to negotiate a better deal with the US?

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