Compulsory Fortification of Flour with Folic Acid Campaign
Compulsory Fortification of Flour with Folic Acid Campaign
SSBA has welcomed scientists' recommendations for the compulsory fortification of white flour with folic acid and along with SHINE (who provide services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) are campaigning for UK residents to lobby their MPs to add their support to the campaign.
On 17 May 2007, the Food Standards Agency Board agreed unanimously that 'mandatory fortification' with folic acid should be introduced. This means that it would be compulsory to add folic acid to either bread or flour.
The purpose of mandatory fortification with folic acid is to reduce the number of Neural Tube Defects. SACN estimated that in Scotland circa 50 pregnancies are affected by Neural Tube Defects each year. It is estimated that every day in the UK two babies are being conceived with a NTD daily.
The Board also wants to introduce controls on voluntary fortification (when manufacturers choose to add folic acid to foods) and advice for the public on supplements containing folic acid.
One step closer to reducing spina bifida affected pregnancies in Scotland
The Association is delighted to hear that the Food Standards Agency have recently issued a letter to Harry Burns, Chief Medical Officer at the Scottish Government advising him that the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition have now reinforced its earlier advice recommending Mandatory Fortification of Flour with Folic Acid.
There is very clear evidence that folic acid reduces the number of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects of which spina bifida is the most severe, however evidence also suggests that women are still not taking folic acid supplements as a prevention. By fortifying flour at source with folic acid, it will help ensure that all woman of child bearing age who are sexually active, are protected. This will ensure that the risk of spina bifida will be reduced in both planned and unplanned pregnancies.
It will now be up to Scottish Ministers to determine the way forward for the Scottish population. The Scottish Spina Bifida Association will continue to support the introduction of mandatory fortification which will significantly reduce the number of affected pregnancies each year in Scotland.
Andy Wynd, Chief Executive of the Scottish Spina Bifida Association said. “At long last there is a glimmer of hope for future generations of Scots. We have campaigned for many years to fortify flour with folic acid as the recommendations on current tablet supplementation quite frankly have very limited impact unless women know to take it and remember to take it"
October 2013
