Public health experts and civil society representatives have called for mandatory front-of-pack warning labels (FOPL) on ultra-processed packaged foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fat, amid growing concerns over unhealthy diets and the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh.
They also urged the government to swiftly finalise the Safe Food (Packaged Food Labelling) Regulations, 2026, to help consumers make informed food choices.
The demands were made at a webinar jointly organised by PROGGA and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) on Thursday to mark World Food Day, observed this year under the theme “Innovation today, nutrition tomorrow”.
Presenting the keynote paper, PROGGA Programme Officer Shabnam Mostafa said 97 per cent of people in Bangladesh consume foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fat at least once a week.
Consumption of such foods is increasing across all age groups, while complex nutritional information printed on the back of food packages remains difficult for ordinary consumers to understand, she said.
Clear warning labels on the front of packages could help consumers quickly identify potential health risks associated with these products.
Participants said the draft regulations prepared by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) were awaiting approval from the Ministry of Food.
However, domestic and international food industry stakeholders were obstructing the approval process by proposing voluntary labelling instead of mandatory requirements, extended implementation deadlines, exemptions for smaller packages and less clear label designs.
Responding to the concerns, BFSA Member Professor Mohammad Shoeb said the draft regulations were currently with the Ministry of Food and responses had been provided to various questions raised by the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Discussions with businesses were continuing, and the regulations would soon be published in the official gazette, he said.
Public health expert Mohammad Mushtaq Hossain, former chief scientific officer of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said NCDs accounted for nearly 71 per cent of all deaths in Bangladesh.
He identified unhealthy dietary habits as a major cause of these diseases and stressed the urgent need for front-of-pack warning labels to address the problem.
GHAI Bangladesh Country Lead Muhammad Ruhul Quddus said implementing FOPL would help reduce healthcare costs and accelerate progress towards the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Abu Ahmed Shamim, associate scientist at BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, described FOPL as the most effective approach.
The webinar was chaired by PROGGA Executive Director ABM Zubair and moderated by its Coordinator Mashiat Abedin.
World Health Organization representative Samina Israt, Vital Strategies representative Aminul Islam Sujan and representatives from civil society and the media also attended.
