New legislation being introduced today will require millers and flour producers to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid from the end of 2026
Around 200 cases of debilitating brain and spine defects in babies every year will be prevented by fortifying non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid.
New legislation being introduced today will require millers and flour producers to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid from the end of 2026.
Folic acid deficiency is a leading cause of neural tube defects, which can cause a large number of serious and debilitating conditions to babies in the womb, including spina bifida.
Flour is already fortified with calcium, niacin, thiamine and iron to improve public health. The move to include folic acid will reduce neural tube defects by 20% in the UK and improve the health of pregnant women. It will also deliver savings of around £20 million to the NHS over 10 years and boost the economy by more than £90 million over 10 years.
Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said:
Baroness Merron, Minister for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health, said:
The NHS recommends that women who are trying for a baby take folic acid supplements for around three months before getting pregnant, and for at least 12 weeks after becoming pregnant. This recommendation will remain in place after the new regulations on flour are brought in.It is estimated that half of all pregnancies in the UK are unplanned. The new regulations will help provide women with a higher baseline intake of folic acid, better protecting their babies in all scenarios.
Professor Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, said:
The government is continuing to engage with the food industry to support them to implement the changes, which will apply to the whole of the UK. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will introduce their own regulations in due course.
Minister for Food Security Daniel Zeichner, said:
Background
The new measures will deliver the NHS £20 million in reduced costs over 10 years. This is in addition to £571 million in benefits to society through an increase in live births, as well as £54 million due to increased labour market participation and £39 million due to parents prevented from leaving the labour market.
This work forms part of a wider Defra review of the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 conducted under the Food Compositional Standards and Labelling (FCSL) UK Common Framework, working collaboratively with the devolved Governments and Department of Health and Social Care.
It included a UK-wide public consultation with the proposals also notified to the World Trade Organisation, fulfilling international obligations.
The key changes include:
The amending regulations published today in England ensure our rules are robust and fit for purpose, with the changes designed to lead to improved public health outcomes, protect consumers, support industry and assist enforcement authorities.
Supportive Stakeholder Quotes:
Professor Ian Young Chair of SACN:
Kate Steele, CEO of Shine, the charity that provides specialist support for people whose lives have been affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus, said:
Joe Brennan, Head of Technical and Regulatory Affairs at UK Flour Millers said:
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