Health · 1 September 2026
Folic acid added to non-wholemeal flour to prevent birth defects
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Adding folic acid to non-wholemeal flour is a legal requirement from 2024, with manufacturers having until the end of 2026 to comply. The government expects the fortification of flour to prevent about 200 cases of issues like spina bifida in newborns annually. Folic acid, a man-made version of vitamin B9, is vital in early pregnancy for a baby's neural tube development.
Reported by bbc.co.uk · How we write briefs