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Ireland: no need for folic acid fortification

19-Mar-2009

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A Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) working group has stated there would be no public health benefit from mandatory folic acid fortification, but is waiting on data due by year’s end before making a final determination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its opinion followed a scientific assessment that found women of childbearing age receive 30 per cent more folate in their diets than three years ago due to voluntary fortification efforts by various food producers.

 

 

 

Folic acid is best known to combat neural tube defects in newborn babies, but the scientific assessment determined the incidence of this condition had fallen.

 

 

 

The FSAI group noted preliminary research that linked folic acid consumption and increased cancer risk.