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How common are birth defects?

The government expects this policy to prevent around 200 cases of neural tube defects annually in the UK. While these conditions are relatively rare, they can have significant impacts on affected families. This fortification is a proactive public health measure to reduce their occurrence.

Stories that explain this

Folic acid added to non-wholemeal flour to prevent birth defects

Related explainers

What is folic acid? Why fortify flour? Global flour fortification What's in my bread? What is spina bifida? Why is 1-0 a common score? What causes runway defects? How common are drug side effects?

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