Researchers call for compulsory folic acid in flour after claiming upper daily limit is based on 'flawed analysis'

A "statistical error" that resulted in an upper limit being set for daily folic acid intake may have contributed to hundreds of children being born with common birth defects, scientists say.

The London-based researchers looked at anencephaly - where a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull - and spina bifida - where the bones of the spine do not form properly around part of the baby's spinal cord.