Folic Acid
(asked on 2nd July 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2026 to Question 3756 on Folic Acid, whether he is taking steps to help ensure patients will be made aware of the fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour; and what support will patients be given to avoid it in their diet.
The Government introduced mandatory fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid as a preventative public health measure to help reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) during pregnancy. Increasing folic acid intake through fortification will help prevent approximately 200 NTDs, including spina bifida each year, which is about 20% of the annual United Kingdom total. The policy will have the wider benefit of increasing the intake of folic acid and improving folate status across the whole population. Folate, including folic acid, plays an important role in forming healthy red blood cells and maintaining brain health.
This policy has been developed over many years, with advice from UK scientific committees, with two public consultations, and clear public communications, including a Government announcement. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/birth-defects-prevented-by-fortifying-flour-with-folic-acid
The four chief medical officers of the UK wrote to healthcare professionals about the policy in relation to pregnancy advice for women who are trying to conceive or likely to become pregnant, with further information available at the following link:
A consumer facing information page has also been published by the Food Standards Agency.
All non-wholemeal wheat flour is already fortified with four nutrients: iron; thiamine; niacin; and calcium.
In developing the policy, it was agreed that fortification should be limited to non-wholemeal wheat flour, helping to ensure that alternative flour choices remain available for those who choose or need to avoid fortified products. This includes wholemeal flour and other flour types such as soya or spelt flour. This was set out in the consultation document.
To help consumers identify suitable products, added vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, must be declared in the ingredients list on flour and on foods made using fortified flour. Individuals with specific dietary requirements should seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional.
The Government’s impact assessment, called De Minimus Assessment, was published at the following link in November 2024: