Recent laboratory tests of butter sold in Swiss supermarkets revealed traces of mineral oil in a number of butter brands, reported RTS. Out of the 13 butters tested, all contained mineral oil at varying concentrations, including organic brands, which in some cases were the most contaminated. The degree of contamination ranged from 11.2 to 26.8 […]
Swiss rules to force removal of Matterhorn logo from Toblerone
Toblerone, the iconic Swiss chocolate brand, will soon be forced to remove the Matterhorn mountain peak logo from its branding, reported RTS. The Toblerone chocolate brand is owned by the US company Mondelez, which plans to move production of the product from Switzerland to Slovakia this year. Strict Swiss rules introduced in 2017 restrict the […]
Bankers in Zurich charged with helping to launder suspected Putin funds
On 8 March 2023, a case was brought against the boss and three employees of the Zurich office of Gazprombank in a Zurich court. The four face charges of alleged money laundering that may be linked to Russian president Vladimir Putin, reported RTS. The case has garnered international interest as it may provide insights into […]
Gruyère cheese can be made in America, rules US court
In Europe, Gruyère, the name of a cheese and a small picturesque Swiss town (Gruyères), is legally reserved for specific cheeses from parts of Switzerland and France made to strict recipes. However, in the US it is also applied loosely to a type of cheese that differs from the Swiss and French originals. European producers […]
Swiss government approves more money for childcare
This week, the federal government voted in favour of providing more money to parents for childcare, reported RTS. Parliament voted 107 versus 79 in favour of higher subsidies for childcare up to the end of primary school. The federal government is funding the creation of extra capacity in nurseries and other childcare facilities. Valérie Piller […]
Paid antenatal leave rejected by Swiss government
On 1 March 2023, Switzerland’s parliament rejected a plan to provide three weeks of paid antenatal leave, reported RTS. Parliament rejected the idea put forward by the Socialist Party by 107 votes to 73. According to those behind the plan, Switzerland is the only European nation that doesn’t offer paid antenatal leave. Those opposed to […]
Swiss government rejects two plans to cut sugar despite rising obesity
This week, Switzerland’s federal parliament rejected two cantonal initiatives to cut sugar consumption, reported RTS. On 27 February 2023, Switzerland’s parliament rejected plans to restrict the sugar content of processed foods and drinks and to require clearer labelling showing the amount of sugar. The proposals were put forward by the cantons of Geneva and Fribourg. […]
Dry winter could lead to summer drought in Switzerland
Across much of Switzerland there has been almost no rain or snow for more than a month. A Swiss hydrologist thinks it’s time to start thinking about conserving water, reported RTS. This winter has seen much less precipitation than normal, leaving experts concerned about the level of ground water across the country. Although the current […]
Why Swiss home construction is falling despite higher demand and higher rents
With Swiss rents high and rising it should follow that more would be invested in building new homes. However, that isn’t the case. The newspaper Blick asks experts why. As rents rise landlords should stand to make more from their investments. Many are also quick to assume that higher rents mean landlords are making excessive […]
Switzerland’s rent rate comes close to rising
Four times a year the rate of interest used to set the rents in Switzerland is reviewed. If the aggregate average mortgage rate goes down some renters can request lower rent. If it goes up some landlords can raise rents. This time the rate remained at 1.25%, however it was close to moving to 1.5%. […]
