Swiss deputy wages war on sugary drinks; bank accounts in Switzerland are generating very low interest rates; and more news in our Wednesday roundup.
Swiss MP wages war on sugary drinks
Data shows that each inhabitant of Switzerland consumes nearly 100 gr of sugar per day — double the amount recommended by the World Health Organization.
Since consuming too much sugar can contribute to obesity and diabetes, Manuela Weichelt, a deputy from the Green Party, submitted a motion asking the Federal Council to include, in the appropriate legislation, a maximum content of 5 gr of added sugar per 100 ml.
Retailers Migros and Coop, as well as manufacturers Nestlé and Coca-Cola, among others, have already reduced the sugar content in some of their products..
The Federal Council, however, is aiming for a further 10-percent cut by 2028.
Additionally, several pediatric associations have recently joined forces to call for a ‘sugar’ tax and advertising restrictions to combat childhood obesity.
What interest rates can you expect from Swiss banks right now?
In June, Switzerland’s central bank had cut its interest rate from 0.25 to 0 percent.
This drop has had a negative — literally and figuratively — effect on savings.
Currently, bank customers in Switzerland receive an interest rate of 0.18 percent on their savings account balances, as reported by Moneyland consumer platform on Tuesday, basing its finding on the analysis of 150 savings accounts in Swiss banks.
There are, however, big differences in interest rates between individual banks, with offering significantly higher yields than others..
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Lausanne wants organic vegetable gardens in front of every building
Municipal authorities in the Vaud capital are setting new environmental goals — namely, to increase the number of ‘urban gardens’ planted and growing on the city territory, to the point that, by 2030, there will be a vegetable garden at the foot of each building.
This means the creation of 30 ‘pocket gardens’ — small urban areas incorporating plants and greenery — as well as 10 educational vegetable gardens, and 10 additional urban vegetable gardens.
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A blood test to detect Alzheimer’s will be available in Switzerland soon
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche is planning to launch a blood test this fall for Switzerland’s medical professionals that can confirm or rule out the existence of Alzheimer’s.
Until now, diagnosing Alzheimer’s has been done through complex and costly procedures.
But they will now be replaced by a simple blood sample taken at the family doctor’s office, which will be sufficient to diagnose this condition..
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