Syed Mahbubul Alam is an Advocate and the Secretary of the Center for Law and Policy Affairs, Bangladesh. He specializes in public health law and policy, with a strong focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including tobacco control, food regulation, and nutrition policy. He has extensive experience in legal research, policy advocacy, and stakeholder engagement, working closely with government agencies, civil society, and international organizations to advance evidence-based public health interventions. His work particularly emphasizes strengthening regulatory frameworks to address risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, and harmful product marketing.
Today, publichealth24.com spoke with Mr. Alam. The interview was conducted by Ibrahim Khalil on behalf of publichealth24.com.
publichealth24.com: Non-communicable diseases are becoming a major concern globally. How serious is the situation in Bangladesh?
Syed Mahbubul Alam: The situation is deeply concerning. In Bangladesh, nearly 70% of all deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and obesity. These are largely driven by unhealthy dietary habits. With rapid urbanization and lifestyle changes, people are increasingly relying on processed and packaged foods, which is further accelerating this public health crisis.
publichealth24.com: In this context, what is Front-of-Package Labeling (FOPL), and why is it important?
Syed Mahbubul Alam: Front-of-Package Labeling, or FOPL, is a system that provides simple, clear, and easy-to-understand nutritional information on the front of food packages. It includes warning symbols, cautionary messages, and visual indicators about excessive levels of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. Its main purpose is to help consumers make quick and informed food choices. If properly implemented, FOPL can serve as a powerful policy tool to protect public health.
publichealth24.com: How do packaged foods contribute to the rise of NCDs?
Syed Mahbubul Alam: Packaged foods and sugar-sweetened beverages are major contributors. They are often high in sugar, salt, and calories but low in nutritional value. For instance, a single can of a sugary drink may contain around 40 grams of sugar—about 10 teaspoons—and roughly 200 calories. Regular consumption of such products significantly increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
publichealth24.com: What about salt and sodium intake?
Syed Mahbubul Alam: That’s another critical issue. High levels of salt and sodium are commonly found in fast and packaged foods such as burgers, pizzas, chips, soups, and processed meats. Additionally, sodium is present in additives like baking soda, monosodium glutamate, and sodium nitrate. Excessive sodium intake is directly linked to hypertension and other serious cardiovascular conditions.
publichealth24.com: How does FOPL help consumers?
Syed Mahbubul Alam: FOPL presents key nutritional information—such as sugar, salt, fat, and calorie content—in a clear and visible format on the front of packaging. This allows consumers to quickly assess whether a product is healthy or potentially harmful, enabling better and more informed decisions at the point of purchase.
publichealth24.com: What does global evidence suggest about the effectiveness of FOPL?
Syed Mahbubul Alam: Global evidence strongly supports FOPL. The World Health Organization has consistently recommended it as an effective measure to reduce the consumption of foods high in sugar, salt, and trans fats. Countries like Chile introduced mandatory warning labels in 2016, which led to reduced purchases of unhealthy foods and encouraged manufacturers to reformulate products. Canada also implemented similar labeling in 2022. Several Latin American countries have followed suit with positive public health outcomes.
publichealth24.com: What is the current status of food labeling in Bangladesh?
Syed Mahbubul Alam: Although Bangladesh has the Safe Food Act, a comprehensive and mandatory FOPL system is not yet fully in place. However, due to continuous advocacy by public health experts and civil society, the government has started moving toward introducing health warning labels, particularly for sugar, salt, and trans fats.
publichealth24.com: Your organization conducted research on this issue. What were the key findings?
Syed Mahbubul Alam: Our study at the Center for Law and Policy Affairs revealed significant gaps. Many packaged food products lack essential nutritional information, allergen warnings, and clear labeling. Critically, information on trans fats, sodium, and added sugars is missing in most cases.
publichealth24.com: Were there any concerns regarding marketing practices?
Syed Mahbubul Alam: Yes, quite concerning ones. We found that many products use attractive promotional terms like “freshness” or “real taste” without providing any health warnings. For example, such claims appeared on over 21% of carbonated beverages and 33% of chips. At the same time, consumers are not adequately informed about the risks associated with high sugar, salt, or trans fat content.
publichealth24.com: What role are regulatory authorities playing?
Syed Mahbubul Alam: The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority has taken an important step by drafting the Safe Food (Packaged Food Labeling) Regulations, 2026 and opening it for public consultation. This draft aims to ensure transparency and consumer protection by mandating key information such as ingredients, nutritional values, production and expiry dates, and manufacturer details. It also proposes standardized disclosure of nutrients like sugar, salt, fat, and energy.
publichealth24.com: What further steps would you recommend?
Syed Mahbubul Alam: The government should introduce a strong, mandatory FOPL system with clear warning labels for high levels of sugar, salt, and trans fats. Effective enforcement, monitoring, and public awareness campaigns are equally important. Collaboration between government bodies, civil society, and health experts will be key to success.
publichealth24.com: Finally, what impact can FOPL have on public health in Bangladesh?
Syed Mahbubul Alam: FOPL can be transformative. It empowers consumers to make healthier choices and encourages the food industry to reformulate products. Ultimately, it is a cost-effective and evidence-based strategy to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases and improve overall public health in Bangladesh.
