Youth lead push for mandatory food labelling in Bangladesh

 
Young people in Bangladesh are set to launch a month-long social media campaign to build public demand for effective front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) regulations, ensuring consumers can easily identify excessive sugar, salt and unhealthy fats in packaged foods.

The campaign was announced at a workshop titled “Youth Advocates for FOPL: From International Evidence to Public Demand for Policy Action in Bangladesh”, organised by the Health and Nutrition Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission at Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in Banglamotor, Dhaka, on Monday.

Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, Member (Law and Policy) and Joint Secretary of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), attended the programme as the chief guest. Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Senior Policy and Advocacy Consultant at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, and Aminul Islam Sujon, Technical Advisor at Vital Strategies, attended as special guests.

Md Anwarul Islam Sarker said the government and BFSA were working to ensure food safety and protect public health. He also expressed support for making nutritional information on packaged foods, including appropriate warning labels, clearly visible on the front of packages in simple and understandable language.

Ruhul Quddus highlighted international experiences and the need for public support for effective FOPL regulations, while Aminul Islam Sujon discussed ways young people could use digital platforms to raise awareness and advocate policy changes.

Mahbuba Rahman, Project Coordinator of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, facilitated the workshop, while Marzana Muntaha, Programme Officer for Advocacy and Campaigns, outlined the next steps.