One Step closer to reducing Spina Bifida affected pregnancies in Scotland
The Association are 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. By fortifying flour at source with folic acid, all women of child bearing age will be protected.
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 current tablet supplementation quite frankly has very limited impact.
October 2009
For further details on folic acid please click HERE
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