Plans to put folic acid in flour to reduce birth defects

Folic acid can help reduce birth defects such as spina bifida. Picture: TSPL

Authorities outside the UK have legislated for food producers to include folic acid in flour in a bid to cut down on birth defects such as spina bifida.

The UK government has yet to enforce the practice south of the Border, with some claiming it is an invasion of the “nanny state”.

But now the Scottish Government are going it alone – moving forward with their plans to implement the “fortification” of flour with the vitamin north of the Border. Ministers have opened bidding on a contract for research “to estimate the potential impact of fortification of flour with folic acid”.

The contract – published by quango Food Standards Scotland (FSS) – reads: “Scottish ministers wish to progress with fortification of flour with folic acid in Scotland, although at this stage there is no indication that other UK countries plan to proceed.

“The current implementation mechanism under consideration for Scotland, is for mandatory fortification of bread or wheat flour manufactured anywhere in the UK and used in products placed on the market (sold or distributed for sale) in Scotland.”

The contract is to model the health outcomes which the move would have on the population.

According to the small print, the information “will be used to inform the implementation plan”. The Scottish Government said in January that they were considering the move.

At the time public health minister Maureen Watt said: “We are disappointed that, despite repeated lobbying from a number of sources, there has been no progress at UK level on mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid.”

Research shows that a lack of folic acid during pregnancy increases the chance of children being born with life-changing disabilities such as spina bifida.

Testing shows that “fortifying” flour with the supplement can reduce the number of such defects by 21 per cent.

Folic acid is naturally produced in vegetables such as lentils, broccoli and spinach as well as citrus fruits.

But present research shows that 85 per cent of mothers currently do not take enough folic acid during their pregnancy.