In Switzerland, since the First World War food storage for emergencies. Soon Coffee would no longer be there.
In Switzerland, they are prepared for emergencies. After the First World War, the Confederates set up shelters for staple foods: they store sugar, rice, edible oils and animal feed for emergencies such as wars, natural disasters or epidemics. Coffee is also left in heaps to supply the population in times of crisis. But probably not for long. Because the Swiss government wants to abolish the compulsory storage of coffee and has presented on Wednesday corresponding plans.
Coffee importers like Nestlé are required to store. According to the government plan, this agreement is due to expire at the end of 2022. The affected companies can then reduce their inventories. Coffee hardly contains any calories and is not vital to survival, according to the government, which refers to a conclusion by the Federal Office for Economic Land Supply.
The mandatory coffee reserves are covered by 15 companies in Switzerland, including the food giant Nestlé. There are currently around 15,300 tonnes of coffee in stock. This should cover the needs of the population in a crisis situation for three months.
The 8.5 million Swiss consume around nine kilos of coffee per capita per year.
But not all are satisfied with the aspirations of the government. The cooperative Réservesuisse, which manages the compulsory stocks, sees the plans critically. The organization says that of the 15 companies that are currently mandated to keep coffee, 12 are definitely going to continue. In addition, health-promoting properties of coffee, such as antioxidants and vitamins, have not been sufficiently considered, says Réservesuisse, referring to objections from some companies.
The final decision on the compulsory storage of coffee will be made in November.
