Bangladesh has the regulatory framework in place and a draft front-of-package labeling (FOPL) regulation ready for implementation. Thanks to a decade of work by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), no new parliamentary legislation is required. All that is needed is the political will to roll out the FOPL.
We need an FOPL protocol sooner rather than later to combat the high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and heart disease.
Currently, 97% of Bangladeshis consume packaged foods at least once a week. These ultra-processed items -- laden with sugar, salt, and trans-fats -- are driving a crisis of obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases.
The numbers are staggering.
According to WHO data, NCDs claim approximately 570,263 lives in Bangladesh annually -- accounting for 71% of all deaths.
Nearly one in five of these deaths is premature. Our current dietary habits, fueled by ultra-processed foods excess in sugar, salt, saturated fat, and trans-fat, are a primary driver of this mortality.
While unhealthy diets are a personal choice, Bangladeshi consumers currently lack the tools to make informed choices.
Most packaged products don't explicitly declare their health risks. FOPL changes the game by introducing simple, clear warning labels on the front of the pack.
The BFSA’s draft regulation is a vital step toward transparency. In a market where ultra-processed foods are cheap and aggressively marketed, clear warnings act as a necessary counter-weight, helping citizens choose health over convenience.
The WHO has identified unhealthy dietary habits as one of the major preventable risks for premature death and various non-communicable diseases.
Approximately 800 million people worldwide have diabetes; 1.4 billion people aged 30 to 79 have high blood pressure; and more than half a billion people suffer from non-communicable diseases like heart disease.
Every year, 74% of deaths worldwide are due to various non-communicable diseases.
Globally, unhealthy diets cause 11 million deaths per year. Locally, the situation is worsening: 13.1 million Bangladeshis now live with diabetes, and over 20% of adults suffer from high blood pressure.
This places immense pressure on our healthcare system. Bangladesh already has one of the lowest public health investment rates in the world.
With roughly 70% of health costs paid out-of-pocket by citizens, and only 4.2% of the health budget allocated to NCDs, the financial burden of disease is pushing families into poverty.
Critics may point to industry concerns, but the government can find inspiration in the 44 countries that have already successfully implemented FOPL.
These nations have proven that mandatory labeling doesn't destroy industries -- it standardizes them.
The FOPL mandates that nutritional and health risk information of a product is presented on the front of the packet or wrapper of ultra-processed foods and beverages using simple language, symbols, or warning messages.
Its main purpose is to help consumers quickly and easily understand and compare whether a product contains high levels of sugar, salt (sodium), saturated fat, or trans-fat.
Generally, nutritional information on packaged foods is provided on the back of the packet in small letters and complex numbers.
It is difficult for all consumers to read and understand these to make a decision. FOPL can easily overcome this limitation.
It does not limit a consumer's choice; rather, it empowers them to make conscious and responsible decisions by providing clear information.
Front-of-package labeling is an effective and evidence-based initiative for protecting public health. Due to simple and clear warning messages on the front of packaged food, consumers can quickly identify unhealthy foods and make healthy decisions without relying on misleading advertisements, attractive packaging, or unclear nutritional information.
At the same time, FOPL encourages the food industry to improve product quality. Due to FOPL with clear warning messages, manufacturers are keen to reduce the use of sugar, salt (sodium), and unhealthy fats to maintain the acceptability of their products, which makes the overall food environment healthier.
Moving beyond complex, tiny nutritional tables on the back of packages to vivid frontal warnings allows for conscious consumption.
It doesn't stop the sale of high-salt or high-sugar products within a permissible band; it simply ensures the buyer knows what they are paying for.
To succeed, Bangladesh must pair the rollout of FOPL with a clear strategy to counter manufacturer resistance, launch effective public awareness campaigns, and ensure strict enforcement.
Forty four nations have already proven that FOPL reduces the consumption of unhealthy foods and raises health literacy. If they can do it, Bangladesh -- with its regulations already drafted and waiting -- certainly can too.
Reaz Ahmad is Editor, Dhaka Tribune.