Beverage producers’ survey finds ‘clear majority’ of Swiss oppose a sugar tax
Sugar taxes have been imposed in Belgium, Norway, France and Britain, but in Switzerland, the concept is still at the centre of much political debate.
Keystone
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.
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
Nestle Chair says CEO change was prompted by growth concerns
This content was published on
The abrupt replacement of Nestle SA’s chief executive officer was prompted by worries over the food and beverage company’s growth outlook, Nestlé Chair Paul Bulcke told Swiss newspaper Le Temps.
Four out of five donor hearts for Swiss children come from abroad
This content was published on
Four out of five donor hearts which are transplanted into Swiss children come from outside the Alpine country, according to the director of Swisstransplant.
Climber dies on the Matterhorn in southern Switzerland
This content was published on
A climber died on Thursday after falling with a partner while descending the Matterhorn, near Zermatt, in southern Switzerland. The other mountaineer suffered minor injuries.
This content was published on
The Dalai Lama has arrived in Switzerland for a short visit. Hundreds of Tibetans welcomed him at an airport hotel in Opfikon, near Zurich, on Friday.
Sudan: Swiss among mediators calling for continuous flow of aid
This content was published on
The seven parties, including Switzerland, who led ten days of talks on Sudan in the Geneva region, are calling for the new flow of aid to “continue and accelerate”.
Coo d’état: Basel struggles to enforce pigeon-feeding ban
This content was published on
Police in the Swiss canton of Basel City have issued only eight fines since the ban on pigeon feeding came into force in July 2020.
Nestlé CEO Schneider was ousted, paving way for veteran Freixe, sources say
This content was published on
Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider was ousted in a sudden move by the world’s biggest foodmaker as a result of the group’s underperformance.
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.