Vitamin to be added to bread in UK in 'very important' move, government announces

Bread and flour will be fortified with a vital vitamin in an effort to prevent serious birth defects in hundreds of babies annually, the Government has announced. The new legislation will mandate millers to add folic acid to non-wholemeal wheat flour from the end of 2026.

Folic acid is a synthetic form of vitamin B9, also known as folate, which aids the body in producing healthy red blood cells and new cells. A deficiency of this vitamin during pregnancy can heighten the risk of severe problems for babies, known as neural tube defects.

The neural tube is a structure that forms the brain and spinal cord of a developing baby from around day 21 of pregnancy to day 28. The most common neural tube defects are spina bifida, when the spine does not develop properly, and anencephaly, when a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull.

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It is recommended that women trying for a baby should take folic acid supplements for about three months before getting pregnant and for at least three months after falling pregnant. However, fortifying bread and flour will provide women with a higher baseline intake of folic acid if pregnancy is unplanned.

This move could prevent approximately 200 cases of neural tube defects every year, according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), as well as saving the NHS £20 million over 10 years.

Public health minister Andrew Gwynne commented on the new health measures, saying: "These measures are a simple and effective intervention to improve health outcomes in babies, giving them the best start in life."

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In the UK, flour is already fortified with essential nutrients, and now plans to include folic acid have been welcomed by England’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty. He remarked: "The fortification of flour is a simple and effective way to help to reduce cases of neural tube defects, although it is important that women who are pregnant or intending to become pregnant continue to take folic acid supplements before and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy."

Baroness Merron, minister for patient safety, women’s health and mental health, expressed her support for the initiative, stating it should "give women greater peace of mind throughout their pregnancy" and emphasised the government's commitment to supporting women and improving maternity outcomes.

Kate Steele, CEO of Shine, the charity for individuals affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus, celebrated the move, saying: "After more than 30 years of campaigning, Shine can finally celebrate the introduction of this very important public health initiative.

“It will improve the health of the general population across the UK but, more importantly, mandatory fortification will reduce the number of babies affected by spina bifida, a lifelong, complex disability.

"It also means that fewer families will be given the devastating news that their baby has anencephaly and will not survive."