Consumers have overwhelmingly come out against a tax on food with a high level of sugar, fat and salt, according to a survey by the Swiss soft drink industry.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/ug
Three out of four people said they rejected such a proposal, which is nearly 10% more than in a similar poll two years ago.
The survey also found that self-responsibility is crucial to eating healthily and that the state should not intervene by taking legal measures.
However, Swiss consumers want transparent information on products, notably with a so-called traffic light label, the lobby group said in a statement on Wednesday.
The group points out that the industry has taken the initiative to reduce sugar levels in soft drinks by 13% since 2005 but it acknowledges that more needs to be done to inform consumers about these efforts.
Critics say it is an attempt by the lobby group to stop parliament from introducing a levy on sugar in beverages.
More
More
Too much sugar in Swiss soft drinks
This content was published on
Did you know that in some countries that have a ‘sugar tax’ soft drinks contain half as much sugar as they do in Switzerland?
One person consumes 4.8 megawatt hours of electricity
This content was published on
On average, the Swiss consume 4.8 megawatt hours of electricity per year. According to Velobiz.de, this is roughly equivalent to the amount generated by all 176 cyclists in the Tour de France during the entire race.
Outgoing ICRC chief in Ukraine defends neutrality amid war
This content was published on
Swiss national Jürg Eglin, outgoing head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Ukraine, reflects on his tenure.
Green party leader criticises government’s neo-liberal policy
This content was published on
The Green Party delegates' meeting opened on Saturday morning in Vicques (JU) with a speech by party president Lisa Mazzone. Mazzone took particular aim at the Federal Council's policy towards the United States.
Working on Sundays is detrimental to well-being, says Swiss study
This content was published on
A study by the University of Bern shows that working on Sundays is detrimental to well-being and particularly affects women.
Safra Sarasin private bank and former asset manager sentenced
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has fined private bank J. Safra Sarasin CHF3.5 million for aggravated money laundering. A former bank employee received a six-month suspended prison sentence.
JPMorgan to pay CHF270 million to settle 1MDB claims
This content was published on
JPMorgan Chase has agreed to pay CHF270 million to the Malaysian government to settle all issues related to its role in the 1MDB financial scandal.
Famine confirmed in Gaza for first time, says UN-backed report
This content was published on
Famine has been declared in a northern part of the Gaza Strip, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system.
Zurich Airport ground handling staff to strike on Friday
This content was published on
Ground handling staff at Zurich Airport have announced a strike for Friday afternoon. According to a union, 200 jobs are at risk.
This content was published on
Philippe Lazzarini will step down as head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) at the end of his term in March, he announced on Thursday.
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
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.
Beverage producers’ survey finds ‘clear majority’ of Swiss oppose a sugar tax
This content was published on
A soft drink industry group says that most Swiss reject the idea of a sugar tax, believing that dietary habits should be an individual responsibility.
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
In 2015, 107.7 million children (under 20) and 603.7 million adults were obese worldwide, according to a global study on the health effects of obesity, published on June 12 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The overall obesity rate was 5% among children (under 20) and 12% among adults, the researchers found. Among adults,…
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.