UK rules make folic acid fortification mandatory for most non-wholemeal wheat flours. (Image: Getty)
The Government has issued a response after thousands of people backed a campaign seeking to reverse a major change affecting white bread and other flour-based products sold in UK supermarkets and shops. Under mandatory regulations, folic acid must be added to most non-wholemeal wheat flours, a move ministers say is designed to improve folate levels and help prevent serious birth defects, including spina bifida.
The petition, hosted on Parliament’s website and launched by Dr Clare Craig, calls for the mandatory fortification of white flour with folic acid to be stopped “immediately”. It has attracted more than 20,000 signatures and argues that synthetic folic acid should not be added to a staple food. The petition states: “Folic acid is a medicine not a food,” and claims it is unethical to expose the wider population without their knowledge or consent for the potential benefit of a smaller group.
Supporters of the petition also point to NHS guidance which identifies groups who may need to avoid folic acid exposure, including some people with cancer, stents or low vitamin B12 levels. The petition argues that avoiding folic acid is becoming more difficult, as some wholemeal and gluten-free products are also being voluntarily fortified by manufacturers.
Because the petition has passed the 10,000-signature threshold, the Government was required to issue an official response. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament. In its reply, the Department of Health described the policy as a public health measure rather than a medical intervention, saying it is expected to prevent around 200 babies a year from being affected by neural tube defects.
The department said the requirement applies to non-wholemeal flour because that category is already subject to fortification rules. It explained that the main aim is to raise folic acid intake among women of childbearing age, improving blood folate levels and lowering the risk of neural tube defects during pregnancy.
According to the Government, the measure is projected to prevent about 200 pregnancies affected by neural tube defects each year, equivalent to roughly 20 per cent of UK cases. Ministers also said the policy would have a broader benefit by improving folate status across the population, noting that folate, including folic acid, is important for healthy red blood cell formation and brain health.
The response added that earlier public health campaigns encouraging women to take supplements, along with voluntary fortification by food manufacturers, had not achieved sufficient results. Despite long-standing advice for women to take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily before conception and during early pregnancy, uptake remains lower than hoped, particularly among younger women and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
“Since almost half of pregnancies in the UK are unplanned, many women may not take supplements during the critical early weeks of gestation.”
It explained that all products should have the ingredients, including folic acid, labelled.
It added: “The decision to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid has a long history and has been considered both by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), which advises the four UK governments on nutrition-related matters, and its predecessor, the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy.
“Folic acid fortification was recommended by the SACN in 2006, after an extensive review of the evidence on folate and health, which is available at the following link. Since then, there have been several further evidence reviews and modelling work (for example) to establish the level of folic acid to be added to flour, as well as to address concerns about potential adverse effects.”
It added that the NHS provides guidance for individuals who may need to avoid folic acid, for example, due to specific medical conditions or interactions with medication. It added: “People in this situation are advised to seek advice from a healthcare professional. Foods in the UK have been voluntarily fortified with folic acid for many years, including products such as breakfast cereals and spreads, without evidence of adverse health effects.”
To read the petiton and see the full response, click here.
