UK mandates folic acid in flour to prevent birth defects, following Scotland's 2018 lead.

Scotland has required the fortification of flour with folic acid since 2018 to prevent birth defects, making it the first country to do so. Now, the UK has followed suit, mandating that millers and flour producers add folic acid to non-wholemeal wheat flour by the end of 2026. This measure aims to prevent around 200 cases of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, each year. Health experts support the fortification, which has proven effective in other countries.

3 months ago
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