The report said trans fats are an example where labelling, especially on a regional level, may help health promotion efforts to improve the quality of dietary fats.
"Multinational food companies have created products that have advantages for them but are harmful to the population," it said.
"While each country could tackle these issues alone, it is likely to be more effective for countries in South Asia to work together to develop strategies with multinational food companies to eliminate trans fats, and reduce unsaturated fats and salt in their products.
"However, the first step is awareness of the trans fat content."
Trans fats are used in making food as they are cheap, add bulk to products, have a neutral flavour and give products a lon