Muhammad Ayub Ali :
Banker Rubina Khatun visited the Shahbagh wholesale market to buy a specific brand of baby food for her child. Acknowledging the importance of breastfeeding, she explained to The New Nation that her demanding office schedule and the absence of daycare facilities leave her unable to breastfeed.
“I have no choice but to rely on the readily available baby food,” she said.
Like Rubina, many working mothers in Bangladesh are turning to commercial baby food for their infants and toddlers, contributing to the rapid expansion of the baby food market, despite concerns about its impact on child health.
Expanding market amid health risks
According to industry sources, the baby food market in Bangladesh has grown to Tk 5,000 crore. In 2014, the market size was just $55 million, as reported by London-based Euromonitor International.
The market has grown significantly, with Bangladesh importing 40,159.34 tonnes of baby food worth Tk 223.36 crore in the 2022-23 fiscal year, compared to 1,076.87 tonnes
worth Tk 49.97 crore in 2021-22.
Despite a slight decline in imports due to local production by companies like Nestlé, demand remains high. Nestlé, which began local production of infant cereal in 2020, dominates the market with a 60 per cent share, according to Debabrata Roy Chowdhury, director of legal and corporate affairs at Nestlé Bangladesh Ltd.
Rising demand and market dominance
The annual demand for baby food in Bangladesh exceeds 12,000 tonnes. Foreign brands such as Lactogen and Cerelac (Nestlé), Mother’s Smile (Abul Khair Group), Biomil (Fasska), and My Boy (Friesland) dominate the market. Local entrepreneurs remain hesitant to enter the sector due to the need for advanced technology and skilled labour.
Debabrata also highlighted concerns about the illegal import of baby food products, which often have limited shelf lives. “Some dishonest traders re-label expired products with new dates, posing a serious health risk,” he warned.
Breastfeeding still the best option
Despite the market’s growth, Bangladesh remains the global leader in breastfeeding, with 65 per cent of mothers exclusively breastfeeding up to five months. Health experts strongly advocate breastfeeding over formula.
Dr Sharmin Rumi Alim, a professor at Dhaka University’s Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, emphasised:
“There is no substitute for breastfeeding. It offers unparalleled benefits to a baby’s health and development.”
Pediatrician Dr Shaikh Ahmed from Dhaka Medical College and Hospital echoed this, stating that breastfed children have enhanced cognitive abilities compared to those fed with processed food. He warned:
“Processed baby food increases the risk of diarrhoea, pneumonia, and other health issues.”
Aggressive marketing and public health concerns
A joint study by UNICEF and the World Health Organization, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, revealed that aggressive marketing by formula companies is undermining breastfeeding. The study found that 51 per cent of parents and pregnant women in Bangladesh had been targeted by formula marketing, often in violation of international infant feeding standards.
The growing baby food market in Bangladesh reflects changing social dynamics, including an increase in working mothers and rising purchasing power. However, health experts caution that breastfeeding remains crucial for a child’s development.
As the market expands, addressing the risks associated with formula feeding and ensuring adherence to international marketing standards is vital for safeguarding child health.
