A Healthier Heart Begins with Informed Food Choices: Why Bangladesh Needs Mandatory FOPL

Every year, on 29 September, World Heart Day draws attention to the importance of preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the world's leading cause of death.

In 2026, the World Heart Federation continues its campaign under the theme “Heart Disease Can Hide in Plain Sight: Don't Miss a Beat,” calling attention to the often-overlooked risks of heart disease and the need for greater awareness and action. While recognizing symptoms and seeking timely treatment are essential, preventing cardiovascular disease also requires action on modifiable risk factors before symptoms develop. Consumption of ultra-processed foods is one such major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, while mandatory Front-of-Package Labelling (FOPL) can help consumers make informed food choices.

Cardiovascular diseases are not merely a medical concern; they are also a major public health and development challenge. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 19.8 million people died from cardiovascular diseases in 2022, accounting for approximately 32% of all global deaths. Heart attacks and strokes accounted for 85% of these deaths. Excessive consumption of packaged and ultra-processed foods, high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, are among the major modifiable risk factors contributing to cardiovascular diseases. Protecting heart health, therefore, requires more than medical treatment. It demands a food environment that makes healthier choices easier and more accessible.

In Bangladesh, WHO estimates that cardiovascular diseases caused 283,800 deaths in 2021, with a significant proportion of these deaths attributable to unhealthy diets. These figures underscore the urgent need to address preventable risk factors contributing to heart disease, including unhealthy dietary habits.

One of the most concerning aspects of today's food environment is the widespread availability and consumption of packaged and ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat. Biscuits, instant noodles, savory snacks, sugary drinks, and other packaged and ultra-processed products have become increasingly common in daily diets. Yet, identifying the nutritional risks of these products is not always straightforward. Nutrition information is often printed in small fonts on the back of packages, using technical terms and figures that can be difficult for consumers to interpret quickly. As a result, consumers may struggle to determine whether a product contains excessive amounts of nutrients associated with cardiovascular disease.

FOPL offers a practical way to address this information gap. By displaying clear and prominent warnings on the front of ultra-processed packaged foods, it helps consumers identify products high in nutrients of concern, including sugar, salt, and saturated fat. Warning-based FOPL can make nutritional risks easier to recognize, support informed purchasing decisions, and encourage food manufacturers to reformulate products to improve their nutritional quality. FOPL has already been adopted in 44 countries worldwide, with mandatory warning-label systems in 10 countries, including Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay. Evidence from these countries suggests that such policies can influence the consumer behavior and promote the reformulation of the products. 

Recognizing this need, Bangladesh has made significant progress towards Introducing Front-Of-Package Labelling (FOPL). The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has already drafted the “Safe Food (Packaged Food Labelling) Regulations, 2026,” which proposes mandatory black octagonal warning labels on the front of packages for ultra-processed foods containing excessive amounts of sugar, salt, and saturated fat. Following public consultation, the draft has been forwarded to the Ministry of Food for completion of the subsequent regulatory process. 

As World Heart Day 2026 approaches, Bangladesh must recognize that protecting heart health begins not only in hospitals and healthcare facilities but also with the everyday food choices people make. Consumers need reliable nutritional information, but they cannot be expected to identify hidden dietary risks without an enabling policy environment. Ensuring access to clear and accessible food information is a shared responsibility of the government, food manufacturers, healthcare professionals, and civil society.

Finalizing the draft Safe Food (Packaged Food Labelling) Regulations, 2026, without dilution, loopholes, or unnecessary delay, should be treated as a public health priority. Alongside, stronger food labelling policies, Bangladesh must continue to invest in cardiovascular disease prevention, healthier diets, and comprehensive non-communicable disease prevention and control.

A healthier heart requires more than awareness; it requires an environment that enables informed and healthier choices. By introducing mandatory warning-based FOPL, Bangladesh can take a meaningful step towards reducing preventable dietary risks, protecting consumers' right to know, and building a healthier future for generations to come. World Heart Day reminds us that every heartbeat matters and that the policies shaping our food environment can help protect them.

Authors: Shabnam Mostofa, Program Officer, PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress); and Mashiat Abedin, Coordinator, PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress).