Clear food labels vital as NCDs cause 71% of deaths: Experts

Health experts and journalism leaders at a two-day workshop have called for the swift finalisation and implementation of Front-of-Package Labelling (FOPL) regulations to help curb the rising burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh.

The workshop, titled "Front-of-Package Labelling (FOPL) in Bangladesh: Importance, Progress and Way Forward," was held on August 24-25 at the BIP Conference Room in Dhaka, organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).

Twenty-six journalists from print, television and online media took part.

Speakers said the consumption of ultra-processed packaged foods high in salt, sugar and unhealthy fats is rising rapidly across all age groups, including children, adolescents and young adults, even as diet-related NCDs climb alarmingly.

NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and hypertension, now account for around 71 percent of total deaths in the country, with unhealthy diets identified as a major contributing factor.

They noted that consumers often struggle to interpret complex nutritional information printed in small text on the back of food packages, making it hard to gauge a product's nutritional quality and health risks.

Clear, easy-to-understand warning labels on ultra-processed food packages, they said, would help consumers make informed choices and serve as an effective tool against diet-related NCDs.

Professor Mohammad Shoeb, Member of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), said the draft FOPL regulation is currently with the Ministry of Food and expressed hope that it would be finalised soon once the necessary procedures are completed.

Abu Ahmed Shamim, Associate Scientist at the BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH), described FOPL as a scientific approach to preventing NCDs, saying it would help consumers easily understand the health risks associated with ultra-processed foods.

Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI, said swift finalisation and effective implementation of the FOPL regulation is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing premature deaths from NCDs by one-third.

Zahirul Alam, Executive Director of Channel 24, said regular media discussions and analysis highlighting the effectiveness of FOPL in addressing NCDs would help facilitate the finalisation of the draft regulation.

Other speakers included Mizan Chowdhury, Co-convener of Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), and ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA. Presentations were delivered by PROGGA's Head of Programs Md. Hasan Shahriar and Program Officer Shabnam Mostofa.