Experts demand regulating packaged food labeling

Public health advocates, policy analysts and rights activists have called upon the government to urgently introduce mandatory Front-of-Pack Labeling (FoPL) regulations with explicit health warnings on packaged food products.

Speaking at a seminar on Monday, they said that escalating consumption of ultra-processed packaged foods rich in excessive sugar, sodium (salt), and harmful saturated fats is driving an alarming rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh.

With NCDs currently accounting for 71% of all deaths nationwide, the speakers said that regulations on FoPL will safeguard public health and protect consumers’ right.

Center for Law and Policy Affairs (CLPA), the Public Health Lawyers Network, and Citizen Network jointly organised the seminar titled “Health Warning Labels on Packaged Food to Protect Public Health and Consumer Rights: International Experience and Action Required”  at the auditorium of Bishwa Sahitya Kendra in the capital.

Anisur Rahman Khokon, member of parliament from Madaripur-3, attended the event as the chief guest with Professor Md Atiqul Haque, chairman of the Department of Public Health at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) in the chair.

Syed Mahbubul Alam, secretary of CLPA, presented the keynote paper, while Aminul Islam Bokul, head of programmes at CLPA, delivered the welcome address.

The seminar was moderated by Kamrunnisa Munna, senior policy analyst at CLPA.

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Among others, Dr Md Shibbir Ahmed Osmani, joint secretary at the health ministry, Iqbal Masud, director at Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, head of programmes a National Heart Foundation, Goaus Peary, director at WBB Trust, and Aminul Islam Sujon, technical adviser at Vital Strategies, addressed the event.

Speaking as the chief guest, Anisur Rahman Khokon stressed the urgent need to address dietary health risks. “We are routinely consuming a form of invisible poison through ultra-processed foods and packaged beverages, which are giving rise to complex chronic ailments,” he said.

He also said that consumers must not be misled. Instead, transparent nutritional risk information must be displayed on every package.

Speakers at the seminar said that the growing popularity of ultra-processed foods, sugary drinks, and fast food among children and youth is severely compounding future health risks. To enable ordinary consumers to evaluate nutritional hazards within seconds, food packages must replace complicated nutrition tables and promotional claims with prominent front-of-pack warning symbols indicating excessive sugar, salt, or saturated fats.

Experts highlighted that FoPL is not merely a packaging feature, but a vital policy instrument protecting consumers' right to information and healthy food selection. They advocated adopting a scientific, evidence-based FOPL model aligned with local dietary habits and international best practices.