Around fifteen Swiss producers of soft drinks have committed to reducing the sugar content of their drinks by 2023 by signing the Milan Declaration. These companies have until the end of 2024 to adapt their revenues. The On En Speak investigation reveals a mixed result.
While 80 countries have adopted a tax on sugar, Switzerland prefers a voluntary commitment from the sector. Soft drink producers have committed to the Milan Declaration in 2023 to reduce the sugar content of their product by 10%.
Enough to annoy the Friborg socialist MP Valérie Piller Carrard who deplores that Swiss Fanta contains more than double the sugar than British Fanta. At the end of 2024, this is still the case.
Reyn Ffoulkes, spokesperson for Coca-Cola Switzerland and Austria, confirms that there have been no recent changes to the formulation or sugar content of Fanta. He specifies that Coca-Cola adapts its recipes in accordance with local and European regulations.
Unquantified reductions
As for the other signatory producers contacted, they do not give more details on the drop in sugar levels, but give indications.
Henniez, Volg (for sodas) and Coop (for certain products) say they have already achieved or exceeded the objectives of the Milan Declaration.
Aldi, Coop (for other products), Lidl, Ramseier and Rivella have started to reduce the sugar content and are continuing the reduction. Other producers like Migros, Rhäzüns, and Volg (for energy drinks) will further reduce the sugar content.
Several brands specify that they reduce sugar little by little, so that it is less noticeable to customers. Producers have until January 10 to provide precise data on their products to the Federal Office of Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (FSVO).
For Nathalie Farpour-Lambert, pediatrician specializing in childhood obesity, head of the Counterpoise program at HUG and consultant for the World Health Organization, the Milan Declaration is not enough and the laws must be changed.
Indeed, the pediatrician affirms that “the sugar consumed in the Swiss population exceeds 100 grams per day, while we should consume a maximum of 25 grams. This overconsumption contributes to numerous chronic diseases, in particular obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases With half a liter of sugary drink, we reach double the recommended daily intake.
The effect of sugar taxes
Among the 80 countries that have opted for a sugar tax, the United Kingdom offers one of the most attractive models with 27 cents per liter for sodas containing more than 8 grams of sugar per 100ml. That’s 45,000 tonnes less sugar in soft drinks each year. British Fanta therefore contains only 4.5 grams of sugar per 100 ml, compared to 10.3 grams in Switzerland. But the British recipe is supplemented with sweeteners.
The problem, for Nathalie Farpour-Lambert, is that this compensation in sweeteners is not clearly indicated on the bottle, while “sweeteners have harmful effects linked to cardiovascular diseases”.
For the pediatrician specializing in childhood obesity, it is absolutely necessary to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks and favor water as the main drink, which can be flavored with a slice of lemon, orange, cucumber or leaves. mint. The sweet drink should only be exceptional.
Radio subject and web adaptation: Frédérique Volery
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