Bangladesh Must Put Clear Warnings on the Front of Food Packages

A food package can tell consumers what a product contains without making it clear what that product could mean for their health. Nutritional information may be printed on the back, but when it is difficult to find or interpret, consumers are left to make choices without fully understanding the risks. In Bangladesh, where packaged foods are increasingly common and non-communicable diseases impose a substantial health burden, this information gap is more than a labelling problem. It is a public health concern. Here, a clear and simple warning labels on the front of the packages comes as a solution.

As Bangladesh observes World Food Day on 16 October under the theme “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow,” the debate must extend beyond food production to enabling informed dietary choice. A food system cannot adequately support public health if consumers lack the information needed to make informed choices. Ensuring that information is clear, accessible and meaningful must therefore be part of the country's efforts to protect public health.

The evidence makes the need for action difficult to ignore. A 2025 survey involving 974 adults, adolescents and children found that 97% of respondents consumed packaged foods at least once a week. Among 105 processed and ultra-processed food products assessed across 14 World Health Organisation (WHO) food categories, 63% exceeded the relevant sodium benchmarks. A separate 2023 study found that saturated-fat, salt and sugar information was absent or unclear on many ultra-processed packaged foods.

Read More

Canada seeks to boost food security through farm innovation in Bangladesh

These findings reveal a dual challenge: potentially excessive levels of nutrients associated with health risks in commonly consumed products, and gaps in the information consumers need to identify them. This matters in Bangladesh, where non-communicable diseases account for approximately 71% of all deaths, according to the WHO. Although no single policy can reverse this burden, improving access to reliable nutritional information is a practical step towards healthier food choices and a safer food environment.

Mandatory front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) offers a way forward. By placing prominent, easy-to-understand warnings on the front of packaged foods that contain excessive amounts of sugar, salt or saturated fat, this approach allows consumers to recognise potential nutritional risks quickly, without having to interpret complex tables printed on the back. It can support more informed purchasing decisions while encouraging manufacturers to reformulate products to reduce excessive levels of nutrients of concern.

International experience reinforces the case for action. Countries including Chile, Mexico and Uruguay have introduced mandatory front-of-package warning systems. Evidence from these countries suggests that such labels can improve consumers' understanding of nutritional risks, influence purchasing behavior and encourage product reformulation. FOPL is an important tool for making healthier choices easier and nutritional risks more visible.

Bangladesh has already taken a significant step towards adopting this measure. The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority proposed mandatory warning-label provisions into the draft Safe Food (Packaged Food Labelling) Regulations, 2026. Published for public consultation in January 2026, the draft was sent to the Ministry of Food on 30 June for further processing.

Read More

Good electoral environment in Thakurgaon, no need to deploy Army: EC

The task now is to turn this progress into the swift finalisation of the regulation. The Ministry of Food, in coordination with the BFSA and other relevant authorities, should finalise the regulation without unnecessary delay, dilution or loopholes. The final framework must retain mandatory, standardised and prominent warnings, as well as set clear implementation time-line.

The regulation must be prioritising public health and safeguarded against undue commercial influence. Food industry claims-including making a mandatory system voluntary, invoking international trade agreements to delay implementation, extending implementation timelines, exempting small packages, and replacing clear warning labels with misleading or less visible designs-must not be allowed to weaken the regulation during its finalisation.

Bangladesh must not allow a promising public health measure to remain a draft on paper. Finalising and implementing a strong, mandatory FOPL regulation is an urgent step towards ensuring that every consumer can see, understand and act on the nutritional risks of the food they buy.

Authors: Shabnam Mostofa, Program Officer, PROGGA; and Mashiat Abedin, Coordinator, PROGGA.