Bread and flour is to be fortified with folic acid in a bid to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida in around 200 babies every year. A new law passed UK-wide today, hailed as “momentous” by health campaigners, will require all millers and flour producers to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid by the end of 2026.
Folic acid deficiency is a leading cause of neural tube defects in babies, including spina bifida. Increasing a woman’s intake of folic acid can help prevent these serious and debilitating conditions, Food Standards Scotland said.
Flour is already fortified with calcium, niacin, thiamin and iron to improve public health. It’s hoped the move to include folic acid will help to reduce neural tube defects by 20 per cent in the UK and improve the health of pregnant women.
Lawrence Cowan, Chief Executive of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland, said: “We have campaigned for folic acid fortification for over 30 years, and this decision will have a life-changing effect for many future parents and children across Scotland. Adding folic acid to flour will give women and their unborn children the best possible opportunities to be healthy.
“Folic acid fortification has proven effective in other countries, and in the UK this measure could prevent around 200 pregnancies affected by neural tube defects. It is important that we keep to the proposed timeline for introducing this legislation to ensure that we can have the broadest impact on families in Scotland.
“This is a momentous moment, and we will continue to work in partnership with the Scottish Government, Food Standards Scotland and other relevant bodies.”
Ian McWatt, FSS deputy chief, said: “For decades, fortified flour has strengthened public health, and these new regulations aim to give children across the nation a healthier start. Over the next two years, manufacturers will have time to adjust both the composition and labelling of their products, ensuring a smooth transition.”
FSS and the Scottish Government will support the food industry to implement the changes, they said, which will apply to the whole of the UK. Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “Ministers have long advocated for the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid to help prevent foetal neural tube defects such as spina bifida – so I am glad to be able to introduce new legislation to help give babies the best start in life.
“It is also vital that women who are planning a pregnancy or are newly pregnant continue to take a folic acid supplement.” Health advice stats all women who are trying for a baby should regularly take folic acid supplements for around three months before getting pregnant, and for at least 12 weeks after becoming pregnant.
These are readily available through pharmacies or supermarkets. The fortification of flour is intended to support not replace this advice.
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