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

Hosted by:

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.

Español

Al elegir carne, ¿qué considera más importante y por qué?
Português

Como você compra carne?
中文

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.

Agribusiness

Explainer: Will Swiss supermarkets be inundated with cheap, hormone-filled beef after US tariff deal?

This content was published on Nov 20, 2025 The US has reduced tariffs on Swiss exports from 39% to 15% but has wrangled duty-free access for American meat, fish and chicken in return. Should Swiss consumers be worried?

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

Join the conversation!

Contributions must adhere to our guidelines. If you have questions or wish to suggest other ideas for debates, please, get in touch!

Please sign in to submit and like comments.

Sort by

Pjamies 2025-11-22 00:58

I was under the Perception that the EU did not allow for the import of US meat due to the chemicals it uses on cattle feed and animal injections

mandy@govender.ch 2025-11-21 05:14

Take a look at what happened to the South African poultry farmers after they were bullied by Obama into allowing 65 thousand tonnes of US chicken into the country. 9000 jobs lost and 47% of small to medium scale farms shut their doors. People will buy cheap unfortunately if its on offer. An educated informed citizen could change that tide. You are not forced to buy US, there are other sources of chicken and protein.

Anand Chandrasekhar SWI SWISSINFO.CH 2025-11-25 12:36

@mandy@govender.ch

Would you recommend eating less meat and chicken but buying only Swiss produce

Pacall 2025-11-20 18:25

I am retired and still buy local, obviously budget is a main factor but quality and meat value is important. Support the Swiss meat industry and you support Switzerland, Giving priority to regional products then products from Switzerland and finally buying European products as a thrid choice. Last choice is buying foreign products by necessity (example Pineapples ). There is no need to buy US meat lots of need to buy Swiss. Maybe some ranchers don't use hormones but many do as well also the GMO products being allowed when in Swirzerland its banded for now. Fight back defend the value and quality of Swiss meat.

Anand Chandrasekhar SWI SWISSINFO.CH 2025-11-25 12:37

@Pacall

Would you recommend buying less meat but choosing Swiss produce over imports

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.

Anand Chandrasekhar SWI SWISSINFO.CH 2025-11-25 12:40

@TXgirlUS

According to the latest update, American farmers will be allowed to export 500 tonnes of beef (nearly double 2024 imports of 261 tonnes), 1,000 tonnes of bison meat and 1,500 tonnes of poultry to Switzerland duty free. Do you think this a good opportunity for the US to showcase pasture-fed American beef

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.

Mentor 2026-01-18 22:03

The following contribution has been automatically translated from ES.

@Jorg Hiker

Stop importing meat. Your government and business leaders should learn to produce outside your country, and imports will be of higher quality and more profitable.

Paren de importar carne 🥩. Que su gobierno y sus empresarios Aprendan a producir fuera de su país y la importancion será con mayor calidad y rentabilidad.

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?

More

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

More

Explainer: Will Swiss supermarkets be inundated with cheap, hormone-filled beef after US tariff deal?

Join the conversation!