Ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt, saturated fat and trans-fat are significantly increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh, health experts warned at a webinar marking World Food Safety Day 2026 on Sunday.

The webinar, titled “Health Risks of Ultra-Processed Foods and the Way Forward: Bangladesh Perspective”, was organised by research and advocacy organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).

Speakers at the event stressed that introducing simple, clear and mandatory warning-based front-of-package labelling (FOPL) could play a vital role in reducing health risks associated with unhealthy processed foods.

This year’s World Food Safety Day theme is “From Burden to Solution: Safe Food Everywhere.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 570,263 people die from NCDs in Bangladesh every year, accounting for nearly 71 per cent of all deaths in the country. Experts said excessive levels of sugar, salt, saturated fat and trans-fat in ultra-processed foods are further worsening the situation.

The webinar highlighted that nutritional information printed on the back of food packages is often too complex for ordinary consumers to understand. As a result, many people purchase packaged foods without fully understanding their nutritional value or potential health risks.

Speakers said mandatory front-of-package warning labels would enable consumers to easily identify foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat, helping them make healthier and safer food choices. The WHO has recognised FOPL as an effective and cost-efficient public health intervention.

Professor Dr Mohammad Shoeb, member of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, said 44 countries around the world had already introduced front-of-package labelling and witnessed positive changes in consumer behaviour.

“Bangladesh is also working on this issue, and we hope to introduce it soon,” he said.

Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, said implementation of FOPL in Bangladesh would help accelerate progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 3.4, which focuses on reducing non-communicable diseases.

Shamsun Naher Nahid, Chief Nutritionist at the Food and Nutrition Department of BIRDEM General Hospital, said front-of-package labelling should be introduced to raise public awareness about harmful ingredients in packaged foods.

Mustak Hassan Md Iftekhar, Founding Chairman of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, and Aminul Islam Sujon, Consultant at Vital Strategies, also spoke at the webinar.

The session was chaired by PROGGA Executive Director ABM Zubair, moderated by Coordinator Mashiat Abedin, while the keynote presentation was delivered by Programme Officer Shabnam Mostofa.

Representatives from civil society organisations, NGOs and youth groups, along with journalists and professionals from across the country, participated in the webinar.