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Monday | October 26, 2026 | Dhaka

Campaign launched to promote warning labels on unhealthy packaged foods

 Staff Reporter
 Published: 5:27 PM, 26 October 2026

A two-month initiative aims to support government efforts to introduce front-of-package labels highlighting excessive sugar, salt and saturated fat

A mass media campaign to raise public awareness of front-of-package warning labels on packaged foods and drinks high in sugar, salt and saturated fat was launched in Dhaka on Sunday, as Bangladesh faces a growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The two-month campaign, launched at a press conference at the National Press Club, aims to build public support for the introduction of front-of-package warning labels (FOPL) and help consumers identify packaged products that may pose health risks.

The initiative is jointly organised by the Coalition for Healthy Food, the Centre for Law and Policy Affairs (CLPA), Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), the National Heart Foundation (NHF), PROGGA and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust.

Md Safiqul Islam, chairman of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) and an additional secretary, attended the launch as the chief guest and formally inaugurated the campaign.

Speaking at the event, he said ensuring food safety remained one of the authority’s key priorities.

“To this end, the BFSA is working to formulate the necessary regulations on front-of-package warning labels (FOPL) to raise public awareness of unhealthy packaged foods and beverages high in sugar, salt and saturated fat,” he said.

The campaign comes amid growing concerns over the prevalence of diet-related diseases in Bangladesh. According to figures cited by the organisers, NCDs account for nearly 71% of all deaths in the country, with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes among the leading causes.

Around 31.8% of adults in Bangladesh are overweight, while 13.4% are living with obesity, the organisers said. Overweight and obesity increase the risk of developing several NCDs, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Front-of-package warning labels are intended to make nutrition information easier to understand by allowing consumers to identify products containing excessive amounts of sugar, salt and saturated fat without having to interpret detailed nutritional tables.

The labels can help people make more informed purchasing decisions and discourage the consumption of products with high levels of these ingredients. The campaign organisers described FOPL as an evidence-based policy measure that could contribute to healthier food environments and help reduce the burden of diet-related diseases.

The initiative will run until 13 December 2026, using television and radio broadcasts, digital platforms, social media, online and print newspapers, and Google advertising to reach the public.

Campaign materials will include video and audio advertisements, static images and other public-facing content. Partner organisations will also distribute the materials through their social media channels.

Besides raising awareness about excessive sugar, salt and saturated fat in commonly consumed packaged products, the campaign aims to support the government’s efforts to introduce regulations governing warning labels on packaged foods and drinks in Bangladesh.

Professor Dr Mohammad Shoeb, a member of the BFSA responsible for food industry and production, and Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh country lead at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), attended the event as special guests.

The programme was chaired by Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, professor and head of research and epidemiology at the National Heart Foundation, and moderated by Iqbal Masud, director of the health and WASH sector at Dhaka Ahsania Mission.

Saifuddin Ahmed, executive director of WBB Trust; ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA; and Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam, secretary of CLPA, were also present.

The organisers said the campaign would seek to strengthen public understanding of the health risks associated with unhealthy packaged foods while building support for regulatory measures to make nutritional information more accessible to consumers.