Media campaign to garner support for front-of-package warnings on processed foods

A mass media campaign (MMC) was launched Sunday to build public awareness and support for front-of-package warning labels (FOPL) on processed and packaged food and drinks high in sugar, salt and saturated fat.

This campaign aims to support government efforts to introduce warning labels that help consumers identify products that may harm their health. The two-month campaign will run through 13 December across television and radio, digital platforms, social media, online and print newspapers and Google advertising, read a press release.

The campaign was officially launched at a press conference held at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Sunday. It is jointly organised by the Coalition for Healthy Food, Center for Law and Policy Affairs (CLPA), Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), National Heart Foundation (NHF), PROGGA and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust.

The campaign comes amid a growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh. NCDs account for nearly 71% of all deaths in the country, with cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes among the leading causes. Additionally, overweight prevalence among adults in Bangladesh is approximately 31.8%, while 13.4% are living with obesity. Overweight and obesity increase the risk for developing NCDs, including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Front-of-package warning labels help consumers quickly identify packaged foods and drinks that contain excessive amounts of sugar, salt and saturated fat. By making nutrition information clear and easy to understand, these labels help people make informed choices and discourage purchases of unhealthy products. They are an important, evidence-based policy to help improve food environments and reduce the burden of diet-related diseases.

Speakers at the campaign launching event included: Md Safiqul Islam, chairman, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA); Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, professor and head of research and epidemiology, NHF; Iqbal Masud, director of health and WASH sector, DAM; Professor Dr Mohammad Shoeb, member (Food Industry and Production), BFSA; Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh country lead, Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI); Saifuddin Ahmed, executive director of WBB Trust; ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA; and Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam, secretary of CLPA.

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.”

The campaign aims to draw attention to the unhealthy ingredients and excessive sugar, salt and saturated fat in many common packaged food products. Moreover, the campaign will also support the government to approve the regulation of Front-Of-Package Warning Labels on Packaged Foods and Drinks in Bangladesh. Campaign materials include video and audio commercials, static images and other public facing content, which will also be shared through partner organizations’ social media pages.