Kellogg, Nestlé, Bossy Céréales, et al: Swiss companies sign declaration to further reduce sugar in breakfast cereals

At the invitation of Federal Councillor Alain Berset – head of Switzerland’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) – the signatories of the extended ‘Declaration of Milan’ set new targets at a meeting in Bern.

The companies – including Aldi Suisse, biofamilia, Bossy Céréales, Coop, Cremo, Danone, Emmi Switzerland, Kellogg (Schweiz), Lidl Schweiz, Migros, Molkerei Lanz, Nestlé Suisse, Schweizerische Schälmühle E.Zwicky, Wander – have committed to further reduce the sugar content in breakfast cereals by 15% and in yogurt by 10% by 2024.

Global epidemic

In 2015, numerous Swiss food producers and retailers signed the Declaration of Milan in a bid to reduce obesity, which has reached epidemic proportions around the world, becoming one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide.

Since then, the Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) conducted surveys on sugar content in 2016, 2017 and 2018, showing that reduction targets were achieved.

However, sugar levels in both breakfast cereals and yogurts are still substantial.

According to the FSVO, Swiss consumers continue to consume twice the amount of sugar a day recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Statistics reveal the average consumption of sugar is around 110g a day – amounting to almost 27 teaspoons.

The sugar reduction will now be extended to other products, and salt reduction will be added to the Declaration.

The DHA announced it will also reserve the right to exclude those companies whose reduction attempts are inadequate from the declaration.