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.
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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.
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Sugar content in food to be reduced further
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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
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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?
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Companies in Switzerland have started voluntarily reducing sugar in their products, but it’s proving quite a challenge for the industry.
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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,…
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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.