Folic acid now added to flour to prevent babies' spinal conditions in UK

Folic acid will be added to nonwholemeal wheat flour across the UK to help prevent life-threatening spinal conditions in babies. Aim to avoid hundreds of potentially lifethreatening spinal conditions in babies every year Adding folic acid to flour across the UK builds on 80 years of fortification and follows consultation with industry, stakeholders and the public The addition of folic acid to food has helped to reduce neural tube defects in a number of countries worldwide Folic acid will be added to nonwholemeal wheat flour across the UK to help prevent life-threatening spinal conditions in babies, the Government and devolved administrations has announced. Adding folic acid will

mean foods made with flour, such as bread, will actively help avoid around 200 neural tube defects each year – around 20% of the annual UK total. Non-wholemeal flour is already an established vehicle for fortification in the UK and the costs of fortification to industry are expected to be minimal. The addition of folic acid to food has been a successful public health policy in a number of countries worldwide such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, resulting in falls in neural tube defects. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: Few things are as important as a baby’s health – and folic acid-fortified flour is a quick, simple win to enhance their development. This will give extra peace of mind to parents and families, as well as helping boost the health of adults across the country. Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid said: We are committed to giving more children a healthy start in life. With the safe and taste-free folic acid baked into the national diet, hundreds more babies will be born healthy each year. Focusing on preventing life-threatening health issues such as spina bifida, will ensure fewer people will require hospital treatment, and more individuals and families are able to live healthier lives. The neural tube forms the early part of the brain and spine within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy – usually before the mother knows she is pregnant. Folic acid is the synthetic/man-made form of folate. Not getting enough folate (Vitamin B9) at this crucial time can lead to neural tube defects and result in spinal conditions such as spina bifida or anencephaly. Folate helps the body make healthy red blood cells and is naturally occurring in certain foods, such as leafy green vegetables. Folic acid is already voluntarily added by food manufacturers to breakfast cereal, including some gluten free products, meaning people can usually get all they need from eating a balanced diet, but a higher intake is required in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The NHS strongly recommends women who could become pregnant or are planning a pregnancy take a 400 micrograms folic acid tablet every day before pregnancy and until they are 12 weeks pregnant. This advice will continue, but with around 50% of pregnancies in the UK unplanned, the Government is taking action to increase folic acid intake nationally to help protect more babies, especially where a pregnancy is unplanned and supplements are not taken early enough. Over 99% of British households buy bread and over a quarter of all groceries in the four biggest supermarkets contain flour, making adding folic acid to flourbased products a simple way to increase folate levels for tens of millions of people across the UK. Since the Second World War, flour has been fortified with calcium, iron, niacin and thiamin during milling to support the nation’s health. Today’s announcement joins 80 countries, such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, adding folic acid to staple food products to help reduce neural tube defects. This public health decision is not anticipated to require major overhaul for industrial-scale flour producers. Folic acid will need to be added to the labelling of all foods made with flour – as is the case with other fortification. Wholemeal flour and gluten free foods are not subject to mandatory fortification and these products are not in the initial scope of this policy. Wholemeal flour has more naturally occurring folate than non-wholemeal wheat flour, and some wholemeal and gluten free foods are already voluntarily fortified with folic acid in the UK. Alex Waugh, Director of UK Flour Millers said: Flour, whether white brown or wholemeal, is an ingredient in many foodstuffs and supplies a big proportion of our daily fibre and protein along with essential nutrients such as calcium, iron and B vitamins. If it is decided that folic acid should be added to flour for public health reasons, flour millers will do all they can to overcome any practical challenges to make it happen. Kate Steele, CEO of Shine, the charity that provides specialist support for people whose lives have been affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus, says: Shine is delighted by the Government’s decision to support mandatory fortification of the most commonly-consumed flours in the UK with folic acid - a move we have campaigned for over thirty years. Mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid will improve public health for so many, now and in the future. In its simplest terms, the step will reduce the numbers of families who face the devastating news that their baby has anencephaly and will not survive. It will also prevent some babies being affected by spina bifida, which can result in complex physical impairments and poor health. This is truly a momentous day’. A four nation review of Bread and Flour Regulations is being undertaken by officials in Defra, the Department of Health and Social Care, Food Standards Agency, and Food Standards Scotland. The implementation of the UK decision on the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid will be included in this review. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities launching fully on October 1st - will lead efforts to level up health disparities across the nation by supporting people of all ages, in all areas of the country, to live healthier lives and prevent illness.

ABU DHABI, 20th September, 2021 AD Ports Group, the leading global driver of trade and logistics, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI) to promote increased cooperation between the two organisations within the fields of transportation and maritime. Facilitated during a recent visit of a high-level delegation led by the Iraqi Minister of Transportation, the MOU was signed by Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO, AD Ports Group, and Dr. Farhan Muhesen Al Fartosi, Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, in the presence of Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and Nasser Hussein Al Shebly, Iraq's Minister of Transportation. Also present at the signing were Taleb Abdullah Bayesh, Under-secretary of the Ministry of Transportation for Technical Affairs; Dr. Mudhafar Mustafa Al Jubouri, Iraq's Ambassador to the UAE; Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail; and Saif Al Mazrouei, Head of Ports Cluster, AD Ports Group. Set for an initial period of 12 months with a clause for automatic renewal, the MOU will see the exchange of expertise and best practices by both organisations. Additionally, AD Ports Group will conduct feasibility studies on the management and operation of the General Company for Ports of Iraq’s ports and economic zones and other infrastructure, while also exploring potential investment opportunities. As part of its scope, AD Ports Group will also develop national infrastructure, such as roads and rail networks, which will connect Al Faw Ports in Iraq with markets in Jordan and Turkey, while simultaneously financing the feasibility studies stated in the MOU. Commenting on the MOU, Al Mazrouei said, "In line with the wise leadership’s vision, the signing of this MOU exemplifies the UAE’S drive to enhance cooperation with sister Arab states. Leveraging the lessons learned as part of our nation’s pursuit to develop strategic sectors and build frameworks that contribute to the economic and social development of the UAE, we are transferring this invaluable knowledge to our kin in Iraq in order to support the formulation of a diverse and sustainable economy in Iraq." For his part, Al Shebly said, "It is our privilege to announce the start of this new cooperation with AD Ports Group. The MOU will serve as the starting point for future collaboration that will drive the development of a wide range of services, while also supporting investors across both our proud nations. It also sets the foundation to foster an Arabi ports’ ecosystem that can cater to the increasing global demands of this sector and keep pace with ambitious plans of the governments in Iraq and the UAE." Captain Al Shamisi noted, "The signing of this strategic MOU with the General Company for Ports of Iraq is a vital step in the efforts to enhance our regional and global status within the maritime transportation and logistics industries. We are confident that the cooperation with Iraq will serve as the foundation of a promising future of success and developmental opportunities that will benefit both nations. It will also enhance trade and the flow of foreign investments to Iraq and will elevate the quality of maritime transportation and logistics services available in the region." Dr. Al Jubouri said, "The Iraqi Embassy succeeded in convening this meeting at a very short notice, and it led to the signing of this MOU that will benefit the two sister states. The embassy was also successful in promoting cooperation between the Iraqi Ministry of Transportation on the one hand, and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in the UAE and AD Ports Group on the other, and we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the active collaboration of our Emirati peers, and we are aiming to strengthen our close ties in the near future." Dr. Al Fartosi commented, "We are pleased to sign this MOU with a leading entity like AD Port Group, a titan with a rich history within the Middle East’s maritime transportation and logistics segment.

Capitalising on its robust portfolio of service capabilities and world class infrastructure, we fully expect to see our ports and transportation ecosystem in Iraq rise to new heights in the coming years. We look forward to promoting our cooperation with the UAE in order to foster the strategic position of the Arab Gulf region across the global supply chain."

says the founder and CEO of Elim Spa Products, in an interview with Sanews. Elim Spa Products was established in 2004 when Booysen wanted to solve a problem she experienced after getting a pedicure. “I loved a pedicure; the thing that irritated me was my feet were slippery in my shoes afterwards. I didn’t like that so I went to a cosmetic formulator and I asked them to create a heel cream that would stop my feet from being slippery,” she says. Working with the cosmetic formulator, they produced a heel cream that guaranteed no slip after a pedicure, had a pleasant scent and softened the heels. Seeing the amazing results from using the product, the entrepreneur sold it to a company, which at the time had 27 spas in the country. It did not take long for the company to introduce the product to its branches on the continent. In the early days of her business, Booysen was assisted by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) with the development of her website and marketing material. She also received financial training. Later on through the agency’s Technology Transfer Fund, the business was able to purchase a sophisticated machine that could package individual sachets of the products. Finding its footing In addition, SEDA assisted the company with access and the support to export freely to Europe particularly Germany, as well as Greece, Spain and Holland. The regulatory process that the Western Cape based company underwent in order to export to Europe was a costly exercise, as the company was required to change its formula to adjust to EU regulations, appoint a responsible person to act as a representative for the company and pay for toxicology tests. “For instance, they did label reviews and if there was an ingredient in one of the products they didn’t ‘approve, you had to change your formula and dump 10 000 boxes reprint those boxes with the correct ingredients on them. “SEDA came in with a massive financial investment. It is extremely expensive export to Europe. There was no way I could afford to do that in the beginning without their assistance,” Booysen says. With the many obstacles that entrepreneurs face when establishing a business, government has committed to support small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMES) and cooperatives through funding initiatives, business development and support services. Government continues to demonstrate its support to SMMES and cooperatives through entities such as SEDA, Industrial Development Corporation, Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA), National Empowerment Fund (NEF) as well as Finfind. This forms part of government’s effort to create jobs and an inclusive economy in a country that has a challenge with unemployment. When starting her business, Booysen was a former journalist, employed by the International Colleges Group doing curriculation and course development. During the first three years of the business, she worked part-time on the business with the assistance of her family and friends. “When I started my business, I started small; I packed my own boxes; I did my own deliveries and I saw the clients myself. It was a challenge in the beginning. My husband had to sell his car twice; we took out a loan and had to scale down on our cost of living to make this business work,” she recalls. Booysen credits the growth of her business to word of mouth and staying connected with her clients. She also believes that there is a solution for every problem. This mentality has helped her to save her company during the most uncertain times in the history of the business. When the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic last year, South Africa went into a nationwide lockdown on 26 March in an effort to curb the spread of the virus and save lives. At the time, salons had to close their doors and sectors that were identified as essential services were the only ones allowed to operate. Staying afloat To make up for the money the business was losing while salons were closed, Booysen focused on earning foreign currency to pay service providers, ensure the company’s supply chain and salaries. “Everyone came together because they wanted to have a job after the pandemic. We have an overcomer mentality in the organization and we always make a plan. My team worked from home and we sold to countries that were open,” Booysen says. As an incentive, the company has a profit sharing scheme and the employees work on a 10% growth bonus. Prior to the pandemic, Booysen had taken up a role as a public speaker where she talks about her journey. Her accolades include being awarded the Western Cape Entrepreneur of the month award in 2015. In the same year, she also won the National Gazelle Award, which is an award for the 40 most promising, high-potential entrepreneurs in South Africa. Elim Spa products is also part of the National Gazelles programme, receiving constant mentoring and interventions from SEDA. –Sanews

Poland’s first March for Life since a landmark decision on abortion by Poland’s constitutional court came into effect earlier this year.the Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw ruled on Oct. 22, 2020, that abortion for fetal abnormalities was unconstitutional. The ruling, which cannot be appealed, is expected to lead to a significant reduction in the number of abortions in the country.abortion remains legal in Poland in cases of rape or incest and in cases of risk to the mother’s life after the ruling.polish President Andrzej Duda met with the organizers of the march, who are affiliated with the Center for Life and the Family and the Christian Social Congress, on Sept. 19. Duda welcomed the constitutional court's ruling last year saying that “abortion for so-called eugenic reasons should not be allowed in Poland.”family News Servicethe March for Life and the Family, which usually takes place in 140 Polish cities, was limited to Warsaw this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.the organizers of this year’s scaled-down march selected “fatherhood” as a key theme of the event.“we want to send a signal not only to the whole of Poland, but also to the whole world that there are men in Poland who take responsibility, that they do not run away from it,” Pawel Ozdoba, one of the event’s organizers said at the opening of the March for Life and the Family.family News Servicearchbishop Stanisław Gądecki, the president of the Polish bishops’ conference, expressed good wishes to the participants of the march in a social media post. The archbishop invoked two recently beatified Polish Catholic figures as examples of supporting the right to life. Blessed Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, the Primate of Poland who led the Church’s resistance to communism, and Blessed Elżbieta Róża Czacka, a blind nun who revolutionized care for the visually impaired, were beatified the weekend prior in Warsaw.“may Blessed Cardinal Wyszynski and Blessed Mother Czacka support you in showing that everyone has the right to life, and the family is the most precious good of humanity,” Gądecki wrote on Twitter.a Mass was offered at the conclusion of the March in Warsaw’s Church of the Holy Cross.family News Service“the Primate of the Millennium was so often called the ‘Father of the Nation,’ hence the connection. We wanted to show that Polish fathers are responsible,” Ozdoba said.“a responsible and strong father and a strong man are needed not only by the family, but also by the whole society,” he said.