ASBAH is calling on senior ministers to show their support for mandatory fortification of flour following the latest announcement from the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
The Chief Executive of the FSA has written to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) recommending mandatory action to reduce the number of UK pregnancies affected by neural tube defects. This is the second time the FSA has recommended fortification after receiving evidence from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).
In December 2006 SACN published a report in which it recommended mandatory fortification of flour in order to reduce the number of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects.
In October 2007 the CMO of England, on behalf of UK CMOs, asked SACN to consider, in further detail, two studies on folic acid and colorectal cancer risk that had not been published at the time of the SACN report.
SACN has concluded that “…the new evidence does not provide a substantial basis to change its previous recommendation for the introduction of mandatory fortification with folic acid, with controls on voluntary fortification.”
Commenting, Jackie Bland, Chief Executive of the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, said:
"ASBAH has been campaigning for years for the introduction of the mandatory addition of folic acid to UK flour products to prevent up to 1,000 spina bifida affected pregnancies each year and, as in the case of America, reduce the actual number of children born with spina bifida.
“The decision of the Food Standards Authority to maintain its position on this issue supports our case for pressing ahead with fortification as recommended.
“Therefore, it is time that this barrier was removed, without delay, and I hope that the Chief Medical Officer acts speedily to enact the FSA recommendations. I am also calling on each of the main political parties to show their commitment to health in this country; by publicly supporting the mandatory fortification of flour, including the issue in their campaign promises, and agreeing to enact the required legislation following the next General Election.”
Dr Roger Bayston adds:
"The decision of the Food Standards Agency to advise the Chief Medical Officer to approve fortification of flour with the vitamin folic acid is good news for all women who might become pregnant. The role of folic acid in reducing the risk of a baby with a neural tube defect (NTD, eg spina bifida) is well established, and other western nations have already adopted folic acid fortification of foodstuffs.
"As with all additions of "chemicals" to food (all bread in UK has long been fortified with iron) there have been concerns about safety, but this issue has now been very carefully considered by the Food Standards Agency and their expert advisers, and they have again decided to advise the Chief Medical Officer to adopt fortification of flour as soon as possible.
"Addition of folic acid to the diet is expected to reduce the incidence of NTDs significantly. The reduction of the number of babies born with this condition is currently brought about by termination of the affected pregnancy, with all its consequences for the parents. The fortification of a common foodstuff, flour, must surely be a better way of reducing this risk. The same vitamin is known to reduce risks of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. The fortification of flour can therefore be seen as a sensible public health measure, and we welcome the decision."
Roger Bayston MSc MMedSci PhD FRCPath
President, SRHSB
Chair, Medical Advisory Committee, ASBAH
Assoc Professor
School of Clinical Sciences
University of Nottingham
