Sugar reduction in food

According to the Federal Office for Food Safety Swiss people still consume twice as much sugar as the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends. We are talking about around 100 grams or 25 sugar cubes per day. But too much sugar clearly makes people ill. Later indicators and consequences are obesity, cardiovascular disorders or even type 2 diabetes. So far, 14 food manufacturers and retailers have already signed up to the so-called Milan Declaration, which Federal Councillor Alain Berset first launched at the World Expo in Milan in 2015 for voluntary sugar reduction. With the inclusion of the new food groups soft drinks, mixed milk drinks and quark, ten more companies have now joined the "Milan Declaration". joined.

No agreement on salt reduction

The joint declaration so far includes a commitment to gradually reduce the sugar content in yogurts and breakfast cereals in particular by the end of 2024. The signatory companies want to reduce the sugar content of other products by ten percent by the end of 2024. Surveys by the Federal Food Safety Office (FSVO) showed that 38 percent of the added sugar in our diet comes from beverages.

There is still no agreement on salt reduction. Salt consumption is also well above the recommended daily intake according to the WHO recommendation (at over five grams per day). The FSVO has so far proposed initial salt reduction targets for soups and salad dressings to the food industry.

These companies have signed the Milan Declaration:

New (since February 14, 2023): Mineralquellen Adelboden AG, Coca-Cola Schweiz GmbH, Goba AG, Mineralquelle Eptingen AG, Ramseier Suisse AG, Mineralquelle Rhäzüns, Rivella Group, Trivarga AG, Vivi Kola AG, Volg Konsumwaren AG

Previously: Aldi Suisse AG, bio-familia AG, Bossy Céréales SA, Coop Genossenschaft, Cremo SA, Danone Schweiz AG, Emmi Schweiz AG, Kellogg (Schweiz) GmbH, Lidl Schweiz AG, Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund, Molkerei Lanz AG, Nestlé Suisse S.A., Schweizerische Schälmühle E. Zwicky AG, Wander AG