What is ASBAH doing?

Since the Government's own advisory committee (COMA) concluded in 2000 that flour should be fortified with folic acid to help prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida, ASBAH has actively lobbied to have this policy implemented.

Lobbying has included putting Early Day Motions to parliament as well as holding an event at the House of Commons to highlight the issue with MPs, meeting with ministers, and pressing the case for fortification with both the Food Standards Agency and with SACN (the Government's Scientific Advisory Committee which took over from COMA).

ASBAH has also issued press releases and given interviews to the media, to keep the issue in the news, particularly when evidence of the benefits of fortification in other countries has been reported in research.

We continue to press for fortification and for a renewed public education campaign, by the Government, about the benefits of taking a folic acid supplement when planning a pregnancy.