Leading scientists including Neena Modi, professor of neonatal medicine at Imperial College London, say folic acid levels in flour are too low to prevent birth defects.
To prevent more UK babies from being born with lifelong disabilities the scientists would like to see higher levels of folic acid added to all flour and rice – not just non-wholemeal wheat flour, as introduced by the Government last year.
The new laws, instated in 2022, aimed to provide adequate levels of this essential vitamin to anyone who eats bread – but without further supplements (which many women cannot afford or do not have time to take in the case of unplanned pregnancy) scientists believe the level of intake is insufficient.
The group states that current levels of folic acid fortification in wheat flour only prevents 20% of neural tube defects, and points out that the legislation does not protect the pregnancies of women who eat gluten-free bread.
Each neural tube defect is a tragedy – I see no reason not to move to a higher level of fortification
“In the UK we have a neural tube defect rate that is one of the highest in Europe,” says Modi. “This is not a trivial condition. It leads to major lifelong complications for baby and family. Each neural tube defect is a tragedy – I see no reason not to move to a higher level of fortification.”
Dame Lesley Regan, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at St Mary’s Hospital, London, agrees with Modi’s view that four times the current levels should be added to all flour and rice. “I’m the one who has to pick up the pieces,” she says, speaking of situations where families opt for late-stage terminations once a diagnosis of birth defects has been made. She adds that the cost of caring for babies born with neural tube-related problems often amounts to tens of millions of pounds.
Previously, experts have voiced concern that excessive folic acid in the general population’s diet could mask other health issues, but Professor M Rothwell, neurologist at the University of Oxford, says that idea ‘just doesn’t fit with evidence’.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care says an agreed level of folic acid would be confirmed ‘in due course’, following a consultation which closed in November.
