MANDATORY FORTIFICATION OF FLOUR WITH FOLIC ACID

That this House notes the intake of folic acid has been proven to reduce the number of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects, of which spina bifida is the most common; recognises that at least 81 countries fortify flour with folic acid, including the US, Canada and Australia, and not one of these countries has reversed this policy; notes that 91 per cent of UK women of childbearing age have a red blood cell folate concentration below the threshold indicating elevated risk of neural tube defects; further notes that the Food Standards Agency, Public Health England, the British Medical Association, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, the Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Department of Health, believe that this step should be taken; further recognises that new research, published in Public Health Reviews by scientists at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University of London and the School of Advanced Study, University of London, shows there is no need for a folate upper limit and with the upper limit removed there is no scientific or medical reason for delaying the introduction of mandatory folic acid fortification in the UK; commends the work of charities such as Shine and SBH Scotland who work across the UK to provide information, support and projects to all those affected by spina bifida and allied conditions, and who are also strong champions of the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid; and calls on the Government to take the steps required to make this policy.