NZ public conned again

26 August 2009 Media Release from Lyall Thurston - Nationalpak

NZ public conned again

Voluntary fortification to reduce the number of neural tube defects is a nonsense, according to Lyall Thurston, spokesperson for the Coalition of Parents with Children with Spina Bifida.

“How many 14-year-old girls have you seen going into the supermarket to buy their own bread? How many women will buy a loaf of bread to eat themselves – at 1-2 slices a day?

“There are more than a million (1.14 from 2006 Census) girls and women of childbearing age in New Zealand. How many do you think actually know to take folic acid a month before and three months after they might conceive? And even if they do know, will they take it daily just on the chance they might get pregnant? More than 50 percent of pregnancies are unplanned and many young girls are sexually active. Many women can’t afford supplements. Thanks to the Bakers’ campaign, some mothers are now too scared to buy fortified bread for their family because they wrongly believe it will give their sons and husbands prostate cancer.

“Voluntary fortification looks fine in theory, but sadly, even at 50 percent of bread, it still won’t make a difference because you’re preaching to the converted. And, no-one can afford the education campaign that would be required annually to reach the vast majority of girls and women to convert knowledge to practice. When they are pregnant it’s too late.

“This continues to be about Bakers wanting to keep autonomy to process the natural folate out of their bread, and add what they want to without interference. Never mind that New Zealand folate consumption is deficient, we’re talking miniscule amounts, and we all need it for good health.

“This is also Government working with the industry to make a decision to postpone mandatory fortification more palatable. What a miracle that all of a sudden folic acid is fine and the bakers are capable of adding folic acid with no added cost to the consumer. How convenient.

“Commercial interests have the money to turn new politicians to their own advantage. We don’t. Public manipulation through misinformation has overruled commonsense, 20 years of research and the experience of 57 countries, and public health. A classroom of New Zealand babies is destined to be terminated every year mandatory fortification is delayed. It should be on everybody’s conscience.”

For more information please contact Lyall Thurston, 0274966499, email: thurst@xtra.co.nz

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