Pregnant women need folic acid solution that works

12 April 2007

Pregnant women need a folic acid solution that works

Yes, pregnant women need folic acid to prevent birth defects, but compulsory folic acid in bread is not the answer.

That's the message from food manufacturers who could have to put folic acid in their products under proposed rules being decided on next month.

They say the rules are silly, because the amount specified would not be enough - 11 slices of bread a day would have to be eaten to get enough folic acid to prevent birth defects.

Brenda Cutress of the Food & Grocery Council and Laurie Powell of the Bakers' Association say public information would be a better way to help women of child-bearing age learn how to get enough folic acid in their diet.

"Our members, who represent 98% of all processed and packaged foods sold by supermarkets and other retail outlets, would be totally behind an education campaign and would support being allowed to voluntarily fortify an expanded range of foods, including bread, to help support healthy choices by pregnant women," Ms Cutress said.

Mr Powell said there was no support for compulsory bread fortification.

"The cost of monitoring to ensure the correct levels of folic acid are being maintained in all bread would be high, and would increase the price of bread," he said.

The rule has been proposed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). It's up to a Council of Australian and New Zealand Health Ministers to decide next month whether to accept the rule or not. Minister of Food Safety Annette King is the New Zealand delegate on the council.

Ms Cutress says she understands that Mrs King would want to keep faith with health interest groups seeking compulsory fortification, but it's more important to have a solution that actually works.

ENDS

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