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 15 July 2026, to Question 16699, on Folic Acid, what assessment has been made since 2017 of the risks of sustained high doses of folic acid in relation to including (a) exacerbation of low vitamin B12 status, (b) prostate, breast, colorectal and overall cancer risk and (c) the long-term effects of unmetabolized folic acid in the body; and for what reason foetal death rates was not a health outcome previously considered by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.

I refer the Hon. Members to the answer provided on 15 September in response to Question 27169 and to the answer provided on 17 July in response to Question 17728.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has not published additional assessments on the issues stated since 2017 but retains folic acid on its watching brief. Individuals with medical conditions or concerns about their folic acid intake should seek advice from a healthcare professional.

The Government will evaluate the impact of the policy in the normal way. Details of this evaluation were discussed at the SACN meeting in June 2026 and are provided in SACN’s matters arising and Government updates document provided on the SACN webpage:

https://app.box.com/s/ivrivaemf7fgeo9a17xdmv167c4uvteu/file/2276350423101