Flour to be fortified with folic acid to help prevent birth defects
New legislation, set to take effect by the end of 2026, will mandate the fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid in order to prevent approximately 200 cases of severe brain and spine defects in babies each year, and improve the health of pregnant women.
The initiative, announced last week, targets folic acid deficiency, a leading cause of neural tube defects, which can lead to serious and lifelong disabilities in unborn babies.
By enriching flour with this essential nutrient, the government aims to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce the prevalence of these devastating conditions, such as spina bifida.
The addition of folic acid builds on existing measures that already see flour fortified with calcium, niacin, thiamine, and iron to bolster public health. Experts project that this intervention will cut neural tube defects by 20% across the UK.
‘Whilst the policy is an important step forward in supporting maternal health, the level of fortification and scope of products fortified (white flour only, as opposed to wholemeal flour and other grains) would only be expected to prevent around 20% of the current annual cases of NTD (neural tube defects),’ the British Nutrition Foundation says.
‘As such, continuing to promote a folate-rich diet and greater uptake of folic acid supplements for women who could become pregnant remains a priority in the UK.
‘The early period of pregnancy is a key window of development where good nutrition can make a difference to children’s health. But with many pregnancies being unplanned, measures to improve the health of women of childbearing age are of vital importance support the health of young children.’
The NHS recommends that women who are trying for a baby take folic acid supplements for around 3 months before getting pregnant and for at least 12 weeks after becoming pregnant. Yet, while folic acid supplements are recommended pre-conception and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy a study of nearly half a million women in England showed that only 31% had taken folic acid prior to pregnancy. The government recommendation to take a folic acid supplement when you're pregnant will remain in place after the new regulations on flour are brought in.
Folic acid supplements – or pregnancy-specific vitamin supplements – that provide the recommended 400 micrograms every day:
More pregnancy & baby content
Surrogate mothers are more likely to experience pregnancy problems, says study
What to eat when breastfeeding? These are the 5 essential nutrients new mums nee
Cut through the noise and get practical, expert advice, home workouts, easy nutrition and more direct to your inbox. Sign up to the WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWSLETTER
You Might Also Like
