Flour sold in the UK to be fortified with folic acid from 2026 in bid to curb condition

All flour will be fortified with folic acid by the end of 2026, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced. It is hoped that the move could reduce birth defects by as much as 20 per cent.

New legislation being introduced today (Thursday, November 14) will require millers and flour producers to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid. A deficiency of folic acid is the leading cause of neural tube defects, which can cause a large number of serious and debilitating conditions to babies in the womb, including spina bifida.

Flour is already fortified with calcium, niacin, thiamine and iron to improve public health. The move to include folic acid will reduce neural tube defects by 20 per cent in the UK, DHSC has said. It will improve the health of pregnant women and deliver savings of around £20 million to the NHS over 10 years and boost the economy by more than £90 million over 10 years.

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Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said: "Shifting care from sickness to prevention is one of the leading ambitions in our 10 Year Health Plan, as we work to make our NHS fit for the future.

"These measures are a simple and effective intervention to improve health outcomes in babies, giving them the best start in life."

Baroness Merron, Minister for Patient Safety, Women's Health and Mental Health, added: "Fortifying bread and flour with folic acid will help reduce neural tube defects and give women greater peace of mind throughout their pregnancy.

"This government is determined to support women and turn around maternity outcomes so every child can live a long, happy and fulfilling life.”"

The NHS recommends that women who are trying for a baby take folic acid supplements for around three months before getting pregnant, and for at least 12 weeks after becoming pregnant. This recommendation will remain in place after the new regulations on flour are brought in.

It is estimated that half of all pregnancies in the UK are unplanned. The new regulations will help provide women with a higher baseline intake of folic acid, better protecting their babies in all scenarios.

Professor Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, said: "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."

The government is continuing to engage with the food industry to support them to implement the changes, which will apply to the whole of the UK. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will introduce their own regulations in due course, a spokesperson for DHSC said.

Minister for Food Security Daniel Zeichner, comments: "When it comes to public health, prevention will always be better, and cheaper, than a cure. Fortified flour has been providing our country with a public health boost for 80 years and this latest collaboration across government will help give the nation’s children a strong start in life.

"We are grateful to industry for their efforts to support a smooth transition, with manufacturers having a 24-month transition period to adjust their processes."

Kate Steele, CEO of Shine, a charity that provides specialist support for people whose lives have been affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus, said: "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. I am so very grateful to everyone who has kept mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid on the government's agenda, especially Lord Jeff Rooker and Shine's Head of Health, Gill Yaz.

"Collectively, we have made our long-awaited goal a reality. It will make such a difference to so many lives!"

Brumwish 2024 - buy a gift for a child in need

BrumWish 2024 is Birmingham Live's festive drive to get thousands of gifts to children and young people across our city - among them the homeless, the vulnerable, kids in care, kids who are poorly or struggling, and kids who have little.

There are THREE simple ways to help.

1. Buy a new gift from the Brumwish 2024 Amazon giftlist. In just a click your donation will be whizzing its way to our volunteers at Edgbaston Stadium.
2. Donate money to the appeal fund hosted by Thrive Together Birmingham - this will help pay for gifts for kids with specialist needs or specific wishes.
3. Buy a gift and, even better, rope in friends, neighbours and workmates to do the same, then drop off your pressies at Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston Road, B5 7QU on Friday 6th December, 10am - 3pm; Saturday 7th December, 10am - 1pm; or Monday 9th December, 10am - 1pm. Volunteers will be there to help you. Please don't wrap your gifts. You can also drop off by arrangement until Monday 16th December - contact Louise on 07469 979286.

Thanks to our partnership with #Toys4Birmingham, every single gift will find a good home in the loving care of a child living in B&Bs or hotels, hostels or refuges, children receiving support from specialist organisations and charities, and families being supported by children's centres and charities around the city.

Making up the Brumwish and Toys4Birmingham gang are Thrive Together Birmingham, Birmingham Playcare Network, Warwickshire Cricket Foundation (the charitable arm of Warwickshire County Cricket Club), Birmingham Forward Steps and BirminghamLive/Birmingham Mail.

Thank you to Amazon UK and the amazing team at the Sutton Coldfield depot for their support.