Bangladesh’s markets are witnessing a growing influx of ultra-processed foods. Alarmingly, research has found that 63% of these products contain salt levels exceeding the limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Meanwhile, although many products contain excessive amounts of sugar and saturated fat, their nutritional information provided on the back of packaging in complex numbers and tables, often fails to provide accurate information about these nutrients. Excessive consumption of these nutrients can expose consumers, often without their knowledge, to serious health risks associated with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Currently, approximately 13.9 million people in Bangladesh are living with diabetes, while one in four adults suffers from hypertension. NCDs now account for 71% of all deaths in the country.
The growing burden of NCDs poses a serious threat not only to public health but also to household finances and the national economy. According to World Bank data, out-of-pocket payments accounted for approximately 79.3% of total health expenditure in Bangladesh in 2023. As a result, illness creates not only a health crisis but also a severe financial burden for many families. The high and continuous costs of treating chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and cancer push already vulnerable households deeper into poverty. This perpetuates a vicious cycle of poverty, while prolonged illness negatively affects national productivity and gross domestic product (GDP).
Experts believe that introducing clear black octagonal warning labels on the front of ultra-processed food packages of unhealthy foods is an effective and cost-efficient strategy for reducing these health and economic risks. FOPL has been introduced in 44 countries worldwide, including Chile, Mexico and Uruguay, and is mandatory in 10 of them. Experience from these countries shows that warning labels help consumers quickly identify products high in salt, sugar and saturated fat and make more informed purchasing decisions. Introducing FOPL in Bangladesh would enable the government to protect a large segment of the population, particularly children and adolescents, from NCDs through a relatively low-cost intervention. Over time, this could substantially reduce pressure on the national healthcare budget and ease the financial burden on individual households.
Abu Ahmed Shamim, Associate Scientist at BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health, said, “Ultra-processed packaged foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat increase the risk of various NCDs. Warning-based FOPL can play a crucial role in communicating the health risks of these products at a glance, raising consumer awareness and encouraging positive changes in dietary habits.”
Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead, Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), added, “Effective implementation of FOPL will reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases and healthcare expenditure. This will play a significant role in achieving SDG target 3.4 and advancing overall economic development.”
The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has already drafted the “Safe Food (Packaged Food Labelling) Regulations, 2026” and, following public consultation and the necessary scrutiny, submitted the draft to the Ministry of Food on 30 June. However, concerns have been raised that influential groups within the food industry are attempting to stall the regulations. Lobbying efforts are reportedly underway to push the government’s proposed mandatory requirements towards a voluntary system and delay the finalization process. Domestic and international stakeholders in the food industry are reportedly continuing to press for concessions, citing international trade agreements, seeking extended implementation timelines and exemptions for small packages, and advocating for misleading or less visible FOPL designs instead of prominent warning labels. Public health experts have expressed frustration that more than three months have passed since the draft was submitted to the Ministry of Food, with no visible progress towards final approval.
Speaking at a recent event, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) Chairman Md. Safiqul Islam said, “Ensuring safe food remains one of the authority’s key priorities. To this end, the BFSA is working to formulate the necessary regulations on front-of-package warning labels (FOPL) to raise public awareness of unhealthy packaged foods and beverages high in sugar, salt and saturated fat.”
ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), said, “Although the government has prepared the draft FOPL regulations following due process, their finalization has been delayed for various reasons. We hope the regulations will be finalized promptly, free from industry interference, to safeguard public health.”
Civil society organizations and public health experts are calling on the government to prioritize people’s lives and the well-being of future generations over the commercial interests of the food industry. To curb diet-related NCDs and prevent households from incurring millions of taka in treatment expenses, the government must urgently finalize the draft Safe Food (Packaged Food Labelling) Regulations, 2026 and ensure their swift implementation.