Processed and ultra-processed foods, including packaged snacks and processed meat, are among the main contributors to excessive salt intake in Bangladesh, speakers said at an awareness seminar on Wednesday.
They warned that high sodium consumption is increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney complications and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the country.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), excessive salt intake causes nearly 1.7 million deaths globally every year. In Bangladesh alone, high-sodium foods are linked to around 24,000 deaths annually.
The information was shared at a seminar organised to mark Salt Awareness Week 2026, being observed globally from May 11 to 17 with the slogan, “Let’s reduce salt in our food together.”
The programme was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) and the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh (NHFB) at the BFSA conference room.
BFSA Chairman Additional Secretary Md Anwarul Islam Sarkar chaired the event.
Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection Director General Faruk Ahmed attended as the chief guest while BFSA Member Prof Mohammad Shoaib also spoke.
Prof Shoaib said many diseases linked to excessive salt intake can be prevented through simple dietary changes.
“Excess sodium raises blood pressure and significantly increases the risk of hypertension, heart disease, stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease, vascular dementia, osteoporosis and stomach cancer,” he said.
Excessive salt intake also causes fluid retention, swelling, reduced joint flexibility and unhealthy weight gain, he added.
Citing the 2023 Global Burden of Disease Study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), he said around 11 million deaths worldwide in 2023 were linked to high blood pressure, including 1.67 million directly associated with high-sodium diets.
Non-communicable diseases are now the leading cause of death in Bangladesh, accounting for around 5,70,263 deaths annually, nearly 71 per cent of total deaths in the country, he said.
About 51 per cent of those deaths are premature while heart disease alone accounts for 34 per cent of fatalities.
The recommended daily salt intake for adults is less than five grams, but the average consumption in Bangladesh exceeds nine grams, he added.
Instead of adding extra salt, people can use garlic, onion and ginger to improve flavour, he suggested.
NHFB researcher Ahmed Khairul Abrar said many young people wrongly believe they do not need to reduce salt intake because they do not currently face health complications.
“Reducing salt consumption is important at every stage of life,” he said.
WHO Bangladesh official Dr Samina Israt said non-communicable diseases claim 43 million lives globally every year.
“To prevent premature deaths, we must reduce salt consumption,” she said.
