Ultra-Processed foods fuel NCD surge in BD

Speakers at a workshop called for urgent action to tackle the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh, linking the surge to excessive consumption of unhealthy ultra-processed foods.

They said diets high in sugar, salt (sodium), saturated fats, and trans fats are contributing significantly to the increase in conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer.

The observations were made at a workshop titled “Tackling Non-Communicable Diseases in Bangladesh: The Role of Hypertension Control and Front-of-Package Labelling,” held at a hotel in the capital on Wednesday, reports UNB.

The event was organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).

Speakers highlighted that introducing Front-of-Package Labelling (FOPL) on packaged foods could be an effective strategy to reduce diet-related NCDs.

They also stressed the importance of ensuring an uninterrupted supply of medicines to manage hypertension.

They said nearly 97% of people in Bangladesh consume packaged foods regularly.

However, nutritional information on the back of packages is often complex and difficult to understand, with key details on salt, sugar, saturated fat, and trans fat not always clearly presented.

As a result, consumers frequently make food choices without fully understanding the associated health risks.

Mandatory FOPL, featuring clear “Excess in” warning labels on the front of packages, would help consumers identify unhealthy products more easily and make informed dietary choices.

Globally, 44 countries have introduced FOPL as a WHO-recommended public health measure, with 10 making it mandatory.

These initiatives have led to improved consumer choices and reduced consumption of unhealthy foods, they said.

Despite the high burden of NCDs, including hypertension, speakers noted that only 4.2% of Bangladesh’s total health budget is allocated to this sector.

This has resulted in inconsistent supplies of anti-hypertensive medicines at community clinics, they said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 71% of all deaths in Bangladesh are caused by NCDs.

They emphasised that increased budget allocation, along with a steady supply of medicines at community clinics and upazila health complexes, could significantly improve the control of hypertension and other NCDs.

Among the speakers were Professor Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute; Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead at GHAI and ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA.

A total of 28 senior journalists from print, television, and online media outlets took part in the workshop.