Bangladesh has achieved remarkable success in food security, ensuring adequate food supply for 170 million people. However, this achievement has been overshadowed by a growing food safety crisis that is compromising public health and imposing substantial economic costs on the nation.
Our latest white paper, "You Are What You Eat: Bangladesh Food and Health Report 2025," documents the extent of this crisis and examines pathways for addressing it.
Produced in collaboration with Khaas Food Limited, this comprehensive report analyzes how widespread food contamination and unsafe dietary practices are creating a dual public health burden of foodborne illnesses and rising non-communicable diseases.
The findings are stark: 52% of food samples nationwide test positive for adulteration and contamination, foodborne illnesses affect 26 million people annually and cost the economy 2% of GDP, and food adulteration has reached what experts describe as epidemic proportions.
Yet the research also reveals that consumers are increasingly aware of these problems, willing to pay for safer alternatives, and that innovative companies are beginning to meet this demand.
To provide insight into the report's extensive findings and encourage deeper engagement with the research, this article presents 15 key insights from our analysis:
The country is dealing with two major health challenges simultaneously: a sharp rise in diet-related non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart disease, combined with widespread food safety problems including adulteration and poor hygiene practices. This dual burden is creating significant public health and economic consequences that demand urgent attention.
Foodborne illnesses cause substantial economic losses, estimated at 2% of Bangladesh's GDP each year. In Dhaka alone, six common foodborne diseases result in $1.65 billion in annual economic losses, affecting approximately 26 million people nationwide. These are not minor costs, they represent major drains on national resources. If we consider costs in productivity loss and standard of living, it is a completely frustrating situation.
Bangladesh's domestic food market reached $9 billion in 2022, with the food processing sector contributing $8 billion. The industry has maintained consistent 8% annual growth from 2005 to 2022, demonstrating strong underlying demand even as safety concerns persist.
Rapid urbanization, increasing disposable incomes, and a large youth population are creating substantial demand for convenient, high-quality, and safe food products. This shift is evident in the expansion of modern retail and the consistent growth of food service sectors.
Research demonstrates strong consumer willingness to pay for safer food: 29% more for safer Tilapia and 21% more for Rohu fish, rising to 52% and 34% when safety benefits are explained. For GLOBALG.A.P. certified chicken, consumers will pay 36.69% more for broiler and 25.99% more for Sonali varieties.
Food adulteration has reached epidemic proportions in Bangladesh. A 2019 study by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority found 52% of food samples collected nationwide were contaminated. Common adulterants include bacterial pathogens, agrochemical residues, toxic preservatives like formalin and carbide, industrial pigments, and textile dyes, substances that pose serious health risks.
Beyond deliberate contamination, the food system suffers from structural problems: widespread lack of food safety awareness, significant gaps between knowledge and practice among food handlers, and overuse of agrochemicals. Vegetable farmers apply pesticides at nearly double the global average rate, creating additional health risks.
Bangladesh has established comprehensive food safety legislation, including the Food Safety Act of 2013 and the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority. However, enforcement is hampered by overlapping jurisdictions, unclear mandates, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and inadequate penalties that fail to deter violations.
Between 20% and 45% of fresh produce spoils before reaching consumers due to inadequate cold chain infrastructure, resulting in an estimated $2.4 billion in annual losses.
Current cold storage capacity is insufficient, and temperature-controlled transport remains limited, creating both food waste and safety risks.
New companies like Khaas Food, NeoFarmer, and Prakrithik Krishi and a long list of other companies are building business models specifically around food safety, often sourcing directly from farmers or operating their own controlled facilities. This emerging sector demonstrates that safe food production is both possible and commercially viable in Bangladesh.
The relationship between food and health has been understood for millennia across civilizations, including in Bangladesh where food is central to cultural identity. The saying "Machh-e-Bhat-e-Bangali" (fish and rice make a Bengali) reflects this deep connection and provides a cultural foundation for food safety initiatives.
Contemporary research emphasizing minimally processed whole foods and gut microbiome health validates traditional Bengali dietary wisdom that historically emphasized balance and moderation. This convergence of traditional knowledge and modern science offers valuable guidance for healthy eating patterns.
Addressing food safety challenges requires comprehensive governance improvements: unifying fragmented food safety laws, streamlining bureaucratic processes, depoliticizing regulatory bodies, and establishing meaningful penalties for violations. Expanding local food testing facilities is also essential for effective oversight.
Key infrastructure needs include expanding cold chain capacity through government subsidies and financing, developing comprehensive traceability systems using technologies like RFID and blockchain, implementing rapid alert systems for food safety incidents, and deploying smart sensor technologies for field testing.
Sustainable improvement demands collaboration across sectors: comprehensive farmer training on Good Agricultural Practices, support for emerging safe food companies and agritech startups, promotion of climate-smart agriculture, crop diversification beyond rice, and expanded food fortification programs to enhance nutritional security.
The research reveals Bangladesh's food system at a critical juncture. Serious challenges exist, adulteration and contamination rates are high, infrastructure gaps are real, and regulatory enforcement needs strengthening.
These problems have genuine consequences for public health and economic development.
At the same time, positive trends are emerging. Consumer awareness about food safety is increasing, and willingness to pay for quality products is strong.
Innovative companies are proving that safe food production is commercially viable.
Technology solutions are becoming more accessible and affordable.
The economic case for addressing food safety is clear: the costs of inaction are substantial and measurable, while the market rewards for safe food production are demonstrated and growing.
For policymakers, this analysis provides evidence-based insights into both the scale of food safety challenges and the effectiveness of potential interventions.
For investors and entrepreneurs, it reveals significant market opportunities in safe food production and related technologies. For development practitioners, it identifies strategic intervention points where resources can have maximum impact.
The food safety challenges facing Bangladesh are serious, but they are not insurmountable.
The combination of growing consumer demand, emerging business models, available technology solutions, and clear economic incentives creates conditions for meaningful progress.
The complete white paper provides the detailed analysis, methodology, and strategic recommendations needed to understand and act on these findings.
Download "You Are What You Eat: Bangladesh Food and Health Report 2025" for free to access:
The evidence shows that while Bangladesh faces real food safety challenges, the conditions for addressing them effectively have never been better. Understanding the full scope of both problems and solutions is essential for anyone working to improve food systems and public health outcomes.
Access the white paper free of cost to inform evidence-based decision-making in Bangladesh's food and health sectors.
