Folic acid in flour to prevent spina bifida
Folic acid will be added to flour in Britain to help prevent dangerous spinal conditions in babies, the Government has announced. Around 1,000 babies are born each year in the UK with neural tube defects (NTDS) such as spina bifida and anencephaly but supplementation could prevent around 200 cases annually. Countries such as Australia, Canada and the US mandate the fortifying of flour, bringing reductions of 16 to 58 per cent in cases of NTDS.
FOLIC acid will be added to flour in Britain to help prevent dangerous spinal conditions in babies, following a two-year consultation, the Government has announced.
Around 1,000 babies are born each year in the UK with neural tube defects (NTDS), such as spina bifida and anencephaly, but supplementation could prevent around 200 cases annually.
Some 80 countries around the world, including Australia, Canada and the United States, already implement mandatory fortification of flour, which has brought reductions of between 16 and 58 per cent in annual cases of NTDS, with no known adverse effects.
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,” the Prime Minister added.
Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate (vitamin B9) which functions, along with vitamin B12, to form healthy red blood cells and is needed for normal cell division, the construction of the nervous system and the development of the neural tube in a growing foetus.
It is found naturally in green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, brown rice, peas, oranges and bananas and is already added to some foods such as breakfast cereals, and yeast extracts.
Since the Second World War, flour has been fortified with calcium, iron, niacin and thiamine during milling to improve the nation’s health. The decision will add folic acid to the mix.
Wholemeal flour will not be included as it has more naturally occurring folate.
Women are advised by the NHS to take folic acid supplements when trying for a baby and until they are 12 weeks pregnant. However, around 50 per cent of births are unplanned, meaning many women do not realise they need supplementation until it is too late.
The Government believes that fortifying flour is the easiest way to reach these women as 99 per cent of British households buy bread and more than a quarter of all groceries sold by the four biggest supermarkets contain flour.
Charities, which have campaigned for fortification for decades, welcomed the announcement saying it would save lives and prevent many people from having to live with debilitating physical impairments.
Kate Steele, chief executive of Shine, which supports people whose lives have been affected by NTDS, said: “This is truly a momentous day … mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid will improve public health for so many, now and in the future.”