https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed All major Swiss supermarkets have products designated as ‘bio’, which refers to their ‘organic’ farming or manufacturing methods. But what exactly does this label represent? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240624/explained-what-does-the-bio-label-on-foods-in-switzerland-really-mean Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:31:47 +0200 explained-what-does-the-bio-label-on-foods-in-switzerland-really-mean A recent survey by the Pew Research Centre delved into what people feel proudest about in their country, with Europeans pointing to history, food and culture among the main reasons. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260228/culture-politics-food-what-makes-europeans-proud-of-their-country Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:49:34 +0100 culture-politics-food-what-makes-europeans-proud-of-their-country An Italian national has been arrested after attempting to smuggle dozens of panettones into Switzerland as part of an undeclared 100kg cross-border haul. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251217/italian-caught-trying-to-smuggle-66-panettones-across-swiss-border Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:17:44 +0100 italian-caught-trying-to-smuggle-66-panettones-across-swiss-border It's official: the best cheese in the world is Swiss. As if it was in doubt? An 18-month-old Swiss Gruyère AOP beat out more than 5,000 participants from 46 countries for the honor of world's best cheese. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251117/swiss-gruyere-named-worlds-best-cheese Mon, 17 Nov 2025 13:29:26 +0100 swiss-gruyere-named-worlds-best-cheese Switzerland has many excellent restaurants, but is the food they serve consistently safe to eat? A new report suggests restaurant goers should take care. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250509/do-restaurants-in-switzerland-have-a-hygiene-problem Fri, 09 May 2025 13:59:39 +0200 do-restaurants-in-switzerland-have-a-hygiene-problem Switzerland’s food supply is among the safest in the world, but it doesn’t mean some ‘toxic’ components can’t get into your system. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241114/how-can-you-check-for-warnings-of-food-contamination-in-switzerland Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:21:39 +0100 how-can-you-check-for-warnings-of-food-contamination-in-switzerland A court in Switzerland ruled Friday that animal names cannot be used to describe vegan products and that terms such as "plant-based chicken" or "vegan pork" constitute consumer deception. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250502/vegan-pork-swiss-court-bans-animal-names-for-plant-based-products Fri, 02 May 2025 18:42:04 +0200 vegan-pork-swiss-court-bans-animal-names-for-plant-based-products The British government has introduced temporary restrictions on travellers from European countries from bringing meat and dairy produce – even in sandwiches – into the country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250415/travellers-from-europe-banned-from-taking-meat-and-dairy-products-into-uk Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:33:18 +0200 travellers-from-europe-banned-from-taking-meat-and-dairy-products-into-uk If you shop in one of Switzerland’s supermarkets, you will not find any unpasteurised milk. But that doesn’t mean you can’t buy it elsewhere in the country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250306/can-raw-milk-be-sold-legally-in-switzerland Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:08:15 +0100 can-raw-milk-be-sold-legally-in-switzerland Have you ever wondered where the bread and other bakery items you buy in Switzerland come from? From February 1st, you will know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250131/switzerland-rolls-out-new-law-around-origin-of-baked-goods Fri, 31 Jan 2025 10:26:31 +0100 switzerland-rolls-out-new-law-around-origin-of-baked-goods Unlike France and Italy, Switzerland is not known for its gastronomy. But if you live here, you have probably heard some of these myths. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210326/six-common-myths-about-swiss-food-you-need-to-stop-believing Fri, 26 Mar 2021 16:20:56 +0100 six-common-myths-about-swiss-food-you-need-to-stop-believing If you have been waiting with bated breath to know the winners of the 2024 Swiss Cheese Awards competition, the results are now ready. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241007/revealed-the-best-three-swiss-cheeses-in-2024 Mon, 07 Oct 2024 13:40:03 +0200 revealed-the-best-three-swiss-cheeses-in-2024 Switzerland’s population already enjoys one of the world’s highest life expectancies. But the government says a better diet can help them stay healthier even longer. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240912/local-and-seasonal-what-swiss-the-government-wants-you-to-eat Thu, 12 Sep 2024 12:59:40 +0200 local-and-seasonal-what-swiss-the-government-wants-you-to-eat One of Switzerland’s most iconic cheeses — the Emmentaler — is in a hole, and now a court must rule on its fate. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240605/swiss-court-to-rule-whether-holes-in-emmental-cheese-are-too-small Wed, 05 Jun 2024 17:15:00 +0200 swiss-court-to-rule-whether-holes-in-emmental-cheese-are-too-small The American fast food giant McDonald's plans to open seven new locations in Switzerland before the end of 2024. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240430/mcdonalds-to-open-seven-new-restaurants-in-switzerland-this-year Tue, 30 Apr 2024 18:53:26 +0200 mcdonalds-to-open-seven-new-restaurants-in-switzerland-this-year Switzerland is home to some top restaurants, many of which have earned the prestigious Michelin stars. But where are they all and does this mean they are the best? Share your own recommendations below. https://www.thelocal.ch/20231017/where-are-the-best-restaurants-in-switzerland Tue, 17 Oct 2023 14:30:03 +0200 where-are-the-best-restaurants-in-switzerland Switzerland’s military is facing financial woes— its coffers are short of 1 billion francs to fund new arms purchases. But according to one MP, the army has a more pressing problem right now. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240417/mp-up-in-arms-over-swiss-militarys-choice-of-wine Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:44:24 +0200 mp-up-in-arms-over-swiss-militarys-choice-of-wine A fourth chocolate - 'blond' - has been slowly making inroads into French confectionary, but has failed to win official recognition and faces competition from a pink Swiss variety. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240328/france-and-switzerland-locked-in-conflict-over-fourth-chocolate Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:24:26 +0100 france-and-switzerland-locked-in-conflict-over-fourth-chocolate Switzerland is synonymous with chocolate (and cheese too, of course), but this doesn’t mean all is well with one of the country’s most beloved products. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240306/whats-going-wrong-with-swiss-chocolate Wed, 06 Mar 2024 16:09:52 +0100 whats-going-wrong-with-swiss-chocolate Nothing rounds off a Swiss school trip better than the combination of a bread bun and a much-beloved red tube – at least until you find out what’s inside. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230222/le-parfait-how-switzerland-fell-in-love-with-a-pork-liver-spread Wed, 22 Feb 2023 09:23:15 +0100 le-parfait-how-switzerland-fell-in-love-with-a-pork-liver-spread