As more fast-food chains pop up in Switzerland, government officials and doctors have sounded the alarm about the eating habits and health of the population.
Nearly every city in Switzerland has at least one, but more likely several, fast-food restaurants.
There are currently almost 500 of these franchises across the country, in addition to numerous kebab, taco, and pizza chains.
McDonald’s, the largest fast-food franchise company in the country, announced in 2024 that it aims to pass the 200 mark for the number of restaurants it has in Switzerland. It currently has around 180.
READ ALSO: McDonalds to open seven new restaurants in Switzerland this year
Other US giants, Wendy’s (hamburgers) and Taco Bell (Tex-Mex), also announced that Switzerland is part of their expansion strategy for new outlets.
Cause for concern
Since most fast foods are high in saturated fats but have little or no nutritional value, doctors are worried that eating them regularly – as some people tend to because they are comparatively inexpensive – will have serious repercussions on their health.
“It’s no coincidence that the United States has the highest density of fast-food restaurants and one of the highest obesity rates. The food environment plays an important role,” Jorge Correia, head of the Obesity Treatment Clinic at Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), told the Swiss News Agency Keystone-ATS.
The situation is not yet quite as bad in Switzerland, but there are reasons for alarm nevertheless.
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Increased risks
“The number of consultations has exploded in recent years; we are almost overcrowded,” said Correia.
Government figures confirm this trend.
According to data from the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), around 15 percent of children and 43 percent of adults in Switzerland are currently overweight or obese.
“Young people are particularly targeted by the advertising campaigns of fast-food chains. Toys are included in the menus for young children or influencers are used to promote the brand,” Correia says.
And it is a well-known fact that obesity can lead to all kinds of other illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer.
Additionally, diets heavy in fast foods can also cause vitamin deficiency.
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Better food, healthier population
To counteract the negative effect of fast foods, Swiss government and food industry are trying to not only raise awareness about healthy eating habits, but also take concrete steps toward this goal.
The government, for example, has come up with a list of what’s healthy and what’s not, and urges the population to follow these guidelines:
READ ALSO: What the Swiss government wants you to eat to stay healthy
And 21 Swiss manufacturers have voluntarily re-committed to further reducing the sugar content of their food and drinks.
This action has already generated positive results, yogurts, milk-based drinks, breakfast cereals, and soft drinks “now contain significantly less sugar than they did 10 years ago.”
To date, the sugar reduction in cereals has reached almost 40 percent.
As for dairy products, yogurts now contain 13 percent less sugar and milk drinks, 14 percent less.
