Sodium Content and Label Discrepancies in Processed and Ultra-Processed Foods in Bangladesh: A Public Health Concern

Processed and ultra-processed foods (PF/UPFs) are becoming a significant public health concern because of their concerningly high nutrient content, including sodium, and rapidly increasing consumption, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to analyze sodium levels in commonly consumed PF/UPFs in Bangladesh, compare them to the WHO's sodium benchmarks, and assess the discrepancies between label-reported and laboratory-analyzed sodium content. A countrywide cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults, adolescents, and children to identify commonly consumed PFs/UPFs. Most common PF/UPFs were analyzed using Mohr's titration method to estimate sodium content. Discrepancies between actual content and labels were analyzed, accepting a ±20% deviation, to determine gaps. Among the 974 participants surveyed, PF/UPF consumption in the past week was 97%, with higher consumption among metropolitan and urban residents. Amount of sodium, analyzed in 105 PF/UPF across 14 WHO categories and sub-categories, varied by categories, with soups, instant noodles, and chutneys having the highest. Compliance with the WHO's sodium benchmarks was inconsistent across categories. The accuracy of label reporting was suboptimal, with under-reporting in 40% of products and a lack of sodium labelling in 9%. These findings unveiled high sodium intake from PFs/UPFs and inaccurate labelling as public health concerns in Bangladesh, highlighting the need for appropriate policies and strategies.