Folic acid in flour plans to supplement pregnant women’s vitamin intake

THE Government is to press ahead with plans to fortify flour with folic acid to combat failure by women to take the vital vitamin when planning pregnancy.

Health Minister Micheál Martin said the case for fortification of flour in Ireland was now "sufficiently robust" to start consultation on how to implement the policy.

Risk benefit analysis of fortification of flour carried out by the Food Safety Authority (FSA) indicated the incidence of Neural Tube Defects congenital defects of the brain and spinal cord such as spina bifida could be reduced by up to 41% if the policy was implemented.