Pressure from the food industry is delaying mandatory warning labels on packaged foods in Bangladesh, public health experts said on Thursday, warning that the delay could undermine efforts to prevent diet-related diseases.
They urged the government to finalise the draft Safe Food (Packaged Food Labelling) Regulations, 2026, without further delay.
The demands came at a webinar titled “Front-of-Pack Warning Labels on Ultra-Processed Foods: Progress, Barriers, and the Way Forward.”
Research and advocacy organisation PROGGA organised the event with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), ahead of World Food Day on October 16. This year's theme is “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow.”
Speakers said consumption of ultra-processed foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fats was rising among all age groups, particularly children and adolescents.
They cited research showing that 97% of Bangladeshis consume ultra-processed foods at least once a week.
They said nutrition tables printed on the back of food packages were often too complex for consumers to understand.
Clear warning labels on the front of packages would help buyers identify unhealthy products and make informed choices, they argued.
The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has prepared draft regulations introducing front-of-package labelling (FOPL). The draft is now awaiting finalisation at the Ministry of Food.
Speakers alleged that domestic and foreign food industry groups were pressing for changes that could weaken the proposed rules.
These included making labelling voluntary rather than mandatory, extending implementation deadlines and exempting smaller packages.
Industry representatives were also citing international trade agreements and advocating less visible labelling designs instead of prominent health warnings, the speakers said.
Professor Dr Mohammad Shoeb, a BFSA member, confirmed that the draft remained with the ministry.
“We have already responded to various queries from the World Trade Organization (WTO) through the Ministry of Commerce and are also discussing with business associations,” he said.
“We hope the regulation will be gazetted soon.”
Public health expert Dr Mohammad Mushtuq Husain, former chief scientific officer of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, called for immediate action.
“NCDs account for nearly 71% of total deaths in the country, with unhealthy diets being a major contributor,” he said.
“Mandatory FOPL will significantly help tackle diet-related NCDs.”
He said the regulations must be finalised without food industry interference.
Abu Ahmed Shamim, associate scientist at BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, said warning-based labels were the most effective way to communicate the nutritional quality and potential health risks of ultra-processed packaged foods.
Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh country lead at GHAI, said mandatory labelling could reduce healthcare expenditure and help Bangladesh meet Sustainable Development Goal 3.4, which targets premature deaths from non-communicable diseases.
M Shamsuddin Ahmed, chief reporter of Daily Ittefaq, described FOPL as an effective public health measure.
He said the media could help accelerate the finalisation of the regulations.
The webinar was chaired by PROGGA Executive Director ABM Zubair and moderated by coordinator Mashiat Abedin.
PROGGA Program Officer Shabnam Mostofa delivered the keynote presentation.
Samina Israt, programme officer for diet-related risk factors at the World Health Organization, and Aminul Islam Sujon, consultant at Vital Strategies, also attended.
Representatives of civil society organisations, NGOs, youth groups, the media and other professional sectors joined the discussion.
Speakers urged the government to introduce simple, prominent and mandatory warning labels on packaged foods, saying the proposed regulations should prioritise public health over commercial interests.
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