Experts have stressed the need for mandatory warning-based front-of-package labelling (FOPL) on packaged foods, saying the measure could help consumers make healthier choices and reduce the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh.
The recommendations were made at a webinar titled "Health Risks of Ultra-Processed Foods and the Way Forward: Bangladesh Perspective", organised by research and advocacy organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), marking World Food Safety Day 2026.
This year's theme for World Food Safety Day is "From Burden to Solution: Safe Food Everywhere."
Speakers at the webinar noted that ultra-processed foods containing high levels of sugar, salt, saturated fat and trans-fat are contributing to the rising prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cancer and other health complications.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), non-communicable diseases account for approximately 570,263 deaths annually in Bangladesh, representing nearly 71 percent of all deaths in the country.
The webinar highlighted that nutritional information printed on the back of food packages is often difficult for consumers to understand, leading many people to purchase products without fully understanding their nutritional content or associated health risks.
Experts said mandatory front-of-package warning labels would allow consumers to quickly identify products containing excessive amounts of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, enabling them to make more informed food choices.
They also noted that the WHO considers FOPL one of the most cost-effective public health interventions for tackling diet-related diseases.
Professor Dr Mohammad Shoeb, member of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), said 44 countries have already introduced front-of-package labelling and have witnessed positive changes in consumer behaviour.
"Bangladesh is also working on this issue, and we hope to introduce it soon," he said.
Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, said implementing FOPL would help accelerate progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.
Shamsun Naher Nahid, Chief Nutritionist at the Food and Nutrition Department of BIRDEM General Hospital, said front-of-package labelling is necessary to raise public awareness about harmful ingredients in packaged foods.
Mustak Hassan Md Iftekhar, founding chairman of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, and Aminul Islam Sujon, consultant at Vital Strategies, also spoke at the webinar.
The session was chaired by PROGGA Executive Director ABM Zubair, moderated by Coordinator Mashiat Abedin and featured a keynote presentation by Programme Officer Shabnam Mostofa.
Representatives from civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, youth groups, media outlets and various professional sectors participated in the discussion.
