More than 133,000 people have signed a petition urging the Government to halt plans to add synthetic folic acid to a range of everyday products, including bread, pasta and cakes. The change becomes law on December 13.
From that date, most non-wholemeal wheat flours must be enriched with folic acid, also known as synthetic vitamin B9. The measure is designed to reduce the number of neural tube defect (NTD) cases during pregnancy. NTDs can cause conditions in unborn babies, including spina bifida, according to the Government.
Petition gathers momentum
The petition, launched on 8 June by Dr Clare Craig, calls for an end to the mandatory fortification of white flour with folic acid. It exceeded the 10,000 signatures needed for a Government response after four days and reached the 100,000 threshold for a parliamentary debate on 8 October. It is scheduled to be debated on 14 December.
The petition states: "We call on the Government to stop the fortification of flour with synthetic folic acid. Folic acid is a medicine not a food. We believe it is unethical to mass medicate the entire population without their knowledge or consent in the hope that a minority group of people might see a benefit."
Government defends policy
In response, the Government said: "Folic acid fortification is an evidenced public health measure, not a medical intervention. The policy applies to non-wholemeal flour, reflecting the flour-type already subject to fortification."
The Government stated the policy aims to increase folic acid intake among women of childbearing age, improving blood folate levels and reducing the risk of NTDs. It is projected to prevent around 200 NTD-affected pregnancies annually, approximately 20 per cent of UK cases. The policy also aims to improve folate status across the whole population.
Previous efforts through public health campaigns and voluntary fortification have had limited success, the Government said. Since almost half of pregnancies in the UK are unplanned, many women may not take supplements during the critical early weeks of gestation.
What is folic acid and is it safe?
Folic acid is the synthetic form of vitamin B9, while folate is the natural version found in foods like leafy greens, beans and citrus fruits. Synthetic folic acid is used for fortification because it is more stable and withstands high oven temperatures, unlike natural folate.
The NHS advises that most adults and children over 12 months can take folic acid, but it may not be suitable for everyone, including people with cancer, a stent or low vitamin B12 levels. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and the Food Standards Agency have examined data from more than 60 countries that already fortify flour, finding no evidence of allergic reactions or widespread harm.
Small-scale millers producing fewer than 500 metric tonnes of flour per year are exempt from the requirement. Australia, Canada and the US have added folic acid to flour for years and have recorded a reduction in birth defects. The legislation does not cover wholemeal flour or flours from other grains, unless the miller opts to add it voluntarily.
